Nyorai kuenderera mberi kweiyi ndima - Mwaka wa2003 wakaona Zersenay achizvisimbisa semasimba ari kubuda mumakwikwi epasirese: akapinda mune gumi epamusoro pa2003 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
, uye akapedza ari pakati pevatatu vokutanga munhangemutange dzake nhanhatu dzose 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.