Dubai: The Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon 2014 saw a rapid increase in the number of UAE nationals taking part in the event.
Out of a total of 30,900 runners who took to Dubai’s streets on Friday morning, about 2,600 were Emiratis. And that figure delighted Ahmad Al Kamali — President of the UAE Athletics Federation, International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF) Council member and Dubai Marathon General Co-ordinator — who has been instrumental in the growth of this event.
“When we started this marathon on November 27, 1998, we had only one national who took part in the event,” he said.
“Today [Friday] we had 2,600 nationals taking part and that is a big difference in the last 15 years. We want more nationals to take part and many are willing to come out and participate. Dubai Health authorities had 1,650 runners and Dubai Holding fielded over 2,000 participants — and all this points towards an increasing awareness to take part in the marathon.”
Friday’s event saw 4,000 people enter the marathon, 18,400 in the 10-kilometre race and 8,500 take part in the 3-kilometre fun run.
Men’s race winner Tsegaye Mekonnen Asefa used the flat course and good weather conditions to set a time of 2:04:32, just over a minute outside the world record.
And Peter Connerton, the Event Director, is confident of a world record in Dubai in the near future. “We are the first city to have under 2:05 regularly. Everyone liked the new route and setting. We will keep on pushing the limits for more fast times and one day see a world record,” he said.
Sean Wallace, the Head of the IAAF’s Road Running Department, who observed the race, said: “It is a course for speed and it is potentially a world record course, provided you have the right athletes and a bit of luck.”
