Nyora kupfuurira kweiyi ndima - Mwaka wa2003 wakaona Zersenay achizvisimbisa sesimba riri kubuda mumakwikwi epasirese: akapinda mune gumi epamusoro pa2003 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, uye akapedza ari pakati pevatatu vepamusoro mumakwikwi ake matanhatu muEurope munguva yechando iyoyo. 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, kuPortugal, kwaakanyora nguva yake yakanakisisa ye 1:01:26 kuti apedze ari panzvimbo yechinomwe.