Buzunesh Deba, an Ethiopian immigrant and Bronx resident, finished second among the elite women in the New York City Marathon [last month]. (David Gonzalez/The New York Times)
By DAVID GONZALEZ
Buzunesh Deba enjoyed the South Bronx on Friday at a lot more leisurely pace than the last time she was there. Granted, that was during the New York City Marathon, where she was on the way to a second-place finish among the elite women. This time, she was savoring the praise and love of students and fans at a luncheon in her honor at Hostos Community College.
Though she is originally from Ethiopia, she and Worku Beyi, her husband and trainer, now live in the Bronx, where they can practice at Van Cortlandt Park. The fact that she almost became the first New Yorker to win the marathon — she trailed the winner by only four seconds — was enough to inspire Julio Pabon, a local businessman and sports entrepreneur, to organize the party.
Read more at The New York Times.
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