N'afọ 2009, Zersenay ghọrọ naanị nwoke nke abụọ (mgbe Paul Tergat) iji merie atọ World Championship ọla n'elu atọ dị iche iche n'otu afọ, na-emeri World Cross Country
ọla, ọlaọcha n'asọmpi 10,000 mita n'ụwa, na ọlaedo n'asọmpi ọkara marathon n'ụwa. Ọ bụ onye ama ama n'obodo ya; ndị ọbịa 2500 bịara agbamakwụkwọ ya na Merhawit Solomon, nke a na-agbasa ozi na telivishọn Eritrea. Nwanne ya nwoke, Kidane Tadese, bụkwa onye na-agba ọsọ ogologo oge.