Town of Runners

Town of Runners follows these young people over three years, as they strive to emulate their local heroes, making the journey from school track to national competition and from childhood to adulthood.

The success of Bekoji's runners is in part due to the dedication of Sentayehu Eshetu, a former PE teacher in the local primary school. Since his protégé Derartu Tulu became the first African woman to win an Olympic Gold in 1996, he has trained and inspired countless elite runners including world champions Kenenisa Bekele, Tariku Bekele and Tirunesh Dibaba. At dawn each morning Sentayehu now oversees an enthusiastic group of over 200 young runners, aged from 10 to adult, through a set of punishing hill runs.