{{Short description|Ethiopian steeplechaser}} {{Infobox sportsperson | name = Kena Tufa | fullname = | image = | image_size = | caption = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|2005|12|27|df=y}} | birth_place = | death_date = | death_place = | residence = | nationality = | spouse = | sport = Athletics | event =Steeplechase | club = | worlds = | nationals = | headercolor = | pb ='''3000m S'chase:''' 8:59.66 (2026) | show-medals = yes | medaltemplates = }} '''Kena Tufa''' (born 27 December 2005) is an Ethiopian steeplechaser. She won the Ethiopian Athletics Championships in the 3000 metres steeplechase in 2026.<ref>{{Cite web | url= https://worldathletics.org/athletes/ethiopia/kena-tufa-15024115 |title= Kena Tufa |access-date=16 May 2026| website=World Athletics}}</ref>
==Biography== In July 2024, Tufa placed third in the 3000 metres steeplechase at the Ethiopian U20 Championships in 9:43.30.<ref>{{Cite web | url= https://worldathletics.org/competition/calendar-results/results/7215864?eventId=10229524 |title= Ethiopian U20 Championships|date=2 July 2024 |access-date=16 May 2026| website=World Athletics}}</ref> The following year she placed second in 9:31.72 for the 3000 metres steeplechase at the 2025 Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi.<ref>{{cite web|website=Athletics Africa |accessdate=16 May 2026|url= https://www.athletics.africa/news/africa/rsa/nene-world-lead-kennedy-upsets-walaza-omanyala-nairobi-21618|title= Nene dazzles with world-lead, Kennedy upsets Walaza and Omanyala in Nairobi |first= Yomi|last= Omogbeja |date=June 1, 2025 }}</ref>
In November 2025, she placed second behind Gela Hambese in the 2k Ethiopian trial race at the Janmeda Cross Country Championships held in Addis Ababa, and was announced in the Ethiopian pool for the mixed relay for the 2026 World Athletics Cross Country Championships.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://liyu-sport.com/article/230|website=liyu-sport.com|accessdate=5 Jan 2026|title= Team Ethiopia Announced for World Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee |first= Haileegziabher |last=Adhanom|date=19 November 2025}}</ref> However, the Ethiopian team was beset by VISA issues resulting in many of the squad being unable to travel to take part.<ref>{{cite web|website= athleticsweekly.com|title= Ethiopian absence at World Cross in Tallahassee is tip of the iceberg|accessdate=14 May 2026|url= https://athleticsweekly.com/news/meetings/ethiopian-absence-at-world-cross-in-tallahassee-is-tip-of-the-iceberg-1040009417/ |date=7 Jan 2026}}</ref>
Tufa won the Ethiopian Athletics Championships in the 3000 metres steeplechase in March 2026, running 9:39.38.<ref>{{Cite web | url= https://worldathletics.org/competition/calendar-results/results/7234052?eventId=10229524 |title= Ethiopian Championships|date=26 March 2026 |access-date=16 May 2026| website=World Athletics}}</ref> On 16 May, Tufa improved her personal best by more than 30 seconds to place fourth in the 3000 m steeplechase at the 2026 Shanghai Diamond League in 8:59.66.<ref>{{Cite web | url= https://worldathletics.org/news/report/schilder-diamond-league-record-shanghai|date=16 May 2026 |title= Schilder breaks Diamond League record with 21.09m in Shanghai |access-date=16 May 2026| website=World Athletics}}</ref> In doing so, she became the 17th women to break nine minutes for the distance.<ref>{{cite web|accessdate=16 May 2026|website=monitor.co.ug|title= Chemutai breaks nine minutes to win in China|date=16 May 2026|url= https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/sports/athletics/chemutai-breaks-nine-minutes-to-win-in-china--5462232 }}</ref> The following week, she placed fifth in the discipline at the 2026 Xiamen Diamond League.<ref>{{Cite web | url= https://www.watchathletics.com/page/7710/results-xiamen-diamond-league-2026 |title= Results - Xiamen Diamond League 2026 |access-date=26 May 2026|date=23 May 2026| website=Watch Athletics}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Tufa, Kena}} Category:Living people Category:Place of birth missing (living people) Category:Ethiopian women steeplechase runners Category:Ethiopian women cross country runners Category:2005 births Category:21st-century Ethiopian sportswomen