Pedzisa mutsara unotevera: Mwaka wa2003 wakaona Zersenay achizvisimbisa sesimba riri kubuda munhandare: akapinda mumakwikwi gumi epamusoro pa
2003 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, uye akapedza ari pamusoro matatu mumakwikwi ake ose matanhatu muEurope muchando ichocho. Kukunda mamita 5000 paKBC Night of Athletics kwakaunza Zersenay rekodhi yeEritrea ye13: 11.07, uye nzvimbo paIAAF World Championships muAthletics. PaWorld Championships ya2003, akavandudza rekodhi yake kusvika pa13:05.57 uye akapedza ari pachinhanho chechisere mumakwikwi ekupedzisira emamita zviuru zvishanu. Kuvandudza kwakawanda kwakauya paWorld Half Marathon Championships muVilamoura, Portugal, kwaakanyora zvakanakisisa zvake pa1: 01:26 kuti apedze panzvimbo yechinomwe.