Pedzisa mutsara unotevera: Melkamu akahwina menduru yake yekutanga mukati memamita 3000 munaKurume 2008, zvakare achitora nzvimbo yechipiri kuseri kwaDefar kuWorld Indoor Championships. Haana kuhwina menduru pa
World Cross Country Championships (achipedza ari pachinzvimbo chechipfumbamwe), asi akakunda Defar kuti akunde mamita zviuru zvishanu paAfrica Championships. Akasarudzwa kuti amiririre Ethiopia paMitambo yeOlympic yeZhizha muBeijing, achipedza wechinomwe mumakwikwi ekupedzisira emamita zviuru zvishanu nenguva ye15: 49.03. (Akapedza nhangemutange ari panzvimbo yechisere asi akakwira kusvika pachinomwe mushure mekunge Elvan Abeylegesse apedza semumhanyi-wechipiri apedzwa makore akazotevera nekuda kwekushandisa zvinodhaka.)