Biruktayit Eshetu Degefa is a marathoner born in Mojo, Ethiopia, who now represents the United States. She built her reputation on the American road circuit, and no race defines her career like the Houston Marathon, where she won three titles in four years.
Degefa took her first Houston title in 2016 in 2:26:07, won again in 2018 in 2:24:51, and completed a third victory in 2019 in 2:23:28, then a personal best. Her first marathon win came earlier, at the 2014 Sydney Marathon.
Her fastest times arrived in 2022. She ran 1:09:41 for the half marathon in Berlin, 31:23 for 10K at Cooper River, and finished the year with a marathon best of 2:21:34 in Valencia that December.