Rambai muchinyora ndima iyi - Melkamu akahwina menduru yake yekutanga yemukati mamita anodarika zviuru zvitatu munaKurume 2008, zvakare achitora nzvimbo yechipiri kuseri kwaDefar kuWorld Indoor Championships. Haana kuhwina menduru paWorld Cross Country Championships
(achipedza ari pachinzvimbo chechipfumbamwe), asi akakunda Defar kuti akunde mamita zviuru zvishanu paAfrican 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.)