ZERSENAY Tadese is set to defend his title for a fourth consecutive year at next month's IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in Birmingham.

FLYING THE FLAG: Zersenay Tadese has been dominant over the half marathon since 2006

Tadese - Olympic bronze and World Championship silver medallist over 10,000m - has dominated the event since winning the short-lived World Road Running Championships over 20km in 2006.

The 27-year-old followed that success with successive victories in 2007 and 2008 when the race was reverted back to the half marathon distance.

Tadese has suffered from inconsistent form in 2009, failing to......