PUBLISHED 10/06/2007
Teyba Erkesso looks younger than her 25 years. Her braided hair and cherubic face seem to be that of a teenager, but Erkesso is already a veteran for the Ethiopian team, helping the country win the 2004 World Cross Country team championships.
As for the marathon, however, she is still a baby. For her, Sunday's LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon is "a test," she said. Inspired to start running at 16 after watching countrywoman Derartu Tulu, Erkesso hopes one day to emulate her role model as Olympic champion. Only she envisions her success in the marathon.
She trains with her husband, Kasuime Adilo, who recently ran 2:10:20 for the marathon to finish third in the Toronto Waterfront Marathon, said her agent Hussein Makke. She hopes some of that speed rubs off on Sunday when she will attempt to test herself against more experienced marathoners. "I prepared well," said through her coach, Hasi Adilo, who helped her with her limited English. "My target for the future is the Olympics."
