Tomas Abyu (born 5 May 1978) is an Ethiopian-born British long-distance runner.
Abyu grew up in the Arsi region of Ethiopia, as a junior he trained with Gezahegne Abera.[1] Abyu left Ethiopia where his father had been killed in the civil war.[2] He came to the United Kingdom as a political refugee and was given asylum in 2000, becoming a British citizen in 2005.[1]
Abyu made his marathon debut in Manchester in October 2002, winning the event in 2:25:28.[3] He transferred allegiance in 2006 becoming eligible to represent Great Britain in athletics.
He improved to record a marathon personal best of 2:10:37, finishing second, at the Dublin Marathon in Oct 2007.[4] The time was better than Beijing Olympic British team qualifying time (2:12), but the Dublin Marathon was not a recognized event, so Abyu needed to meet the qualifying time at the 2008 London Marathon.[1] [2] Unfortunately he finished in a time of 2:15:49, placed 16th and the second Britain behind Dan Robinson.[5]
| 2003 | Loch Ness Marathon | Inverness, UK | 1st | Marathon | 2:20:59 | |
| 2003 | Sheffield Marathon | Sheffield, UK | 1st | Marathon | 2:27:42 | |
| 2006 | London Marathon | London, UK | 16th | Marathon | 2:15:50 | |
| 2006 | Sheffield Half Marathon | Sheffield, UK | 1st | Half Marathon | 1:04:05 | |
| 2006 | Great Cumbrian Run | Carlisle, UK | 1st | Half Marathon | 1:08:22 | |
| 2006 | Windsor Half Marathon | Windsor, UK | 1st | Half Marathon | 1:06:27 | |
| 2007 | Watford Half Marathon | Watford, UK | 1st | Half Marathon | 1:04:50 | |
| 2007 | Four Villages Half Marathon | Helsby, UK | 1st | Half Marathon | 1:04:56 | |
| 2007 | Great North Run | Newcastle upon Tyne, UK | 4th | Half Marathon | 1:02:50 (PB) | |
| 2007 | Dublin Marathon | Dublin, Ireland | 2nd | Marathon | 2:10:37 (PB) | |
| 2008 | London Marathon | London, UK | 16th | Marathon | 2:15:49 | |
| 2008 | Four Villages Half Marathon | Helsby, UK | 1st | Half Marathon | 1:05:22 | |
| 2009 | London Marathon | London, UK | 19th | Marathon | 2:20:09 | |
| 2010 | Loch Ness Marathon | Inverness, UK | 1st | Marathon | 2:20:50 | |
| 2011 | London Marathon | London, UK | 28th | Marathon | 2:21:25 | |
| 2011 | Loch Ness Marathon | Inverness, UK | 1st | Marathon | 2:20:50 | |
| 2011 | Windsor Half Marathon | Windsor, UK | 1st | Half Marathon | 1:10:05 | |
| 2012 | Jersey Marathon | Jersey, UK | 1st | Marathon | 2:24:43 | |
| 2014 | Loch Ness Marathon | Inverness, UK | 1st | Marathon | 2:22:41 |