The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationship of athletic fJeI:/iJrllIllIICe wit"rnlocus of control and personality characteristics among Ethiopian athletes. It was alsornaimed to examine the existing counseling intervention mechanisms employed to enhancernathletic performance in the study sites. Among 225 total samples who were selected fromrn10 sport clubs /Ising simple random sampling, only 208( 64 from short distance running,rn74 of middle distance running and 70 of long distance runners) completed and returnrnback the questionnaires. 10 Coaches were also selected purposively from the .ljJort clubs.rnAjier Pilot study was conducted, a questionnaire consisting of demogrophic items,rnmodified Rotler's .internal-external locus of control and Big five personality inventoryrnwas employed Semi- structured interview guiding questions was also used in the study.rnThe collected data was analyzed through Pearson product moment, t-test, and multiplernregression. analysis techniques. The open-ended questions and interview re;jJonses werernqualitatively analyzed. The quantitative analysis showed that those athletes with highrnneuroticism and agreeableness scored low athletic performance at a significant level atrn200m and 400m events respectively. Athletes with high external locus of control alsornpel/(mll low at a significant level at 3000m event. Those participants with high internalrnlocus of control scored low athletic pelformance at short and middle track events. Therernwas no significance difference be/ween male and female athletes on locus of control andrnconscientiousness at all running events. Locus of control and personality characteristicsrnwere not able to explain the variations in best performance time of athletes at significantrnlevel at all running events. However, demographic variables were able to explain thernvariance in best performance time significantly at short track events. The qualitativernresult also point out that athletes encounter copious problems related to psychological,rnhealih, lack of resources, etc. More specifically, wrong beliefs on "power/tinqola" wasrnreported as a devastating factor of pel/ormance of many athletes. All respondentsrnell/phasized the relevance o/counseling services /01' improving athletic performance andrnpsychological wellbeing 0/ athletes. But, there were no advanced counseling interventionrnmechanisms rather than giving sill/pie advice for athletes. Based on the .findings 0/ thernstudy conclusions were drawn and recommendations also forwarded to alleviate thernexisting problems and improve the Ethiopian athletes' performance.