He ran frequently in 2009 and began in the United States. He won the Monument Avenue 10K, Cooper River Bridge Run, and Bolder Boulder races, as well as taking second at the Bay To Breakers. He was dominant at the Falmouth Road Race 7-miler in August, winning in a time of 31:41 minutes. In his first international selection he ran at the 2009 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships: although he was only eleventh overall, he led the Ethiopian men to the bronze medal in the team competition. He returned to the Delhi Half Marathon in November and again took fourth place. He took his first a career victory at the Great Ethiopian Run that month, edging Abera Kuma at the finish.