Dubai: After a titanic battle that saw them both set marathon personal bests in the emirate in 2010, Ethiopian athletes Chala Dechase and Eshetu Wendimu will once again renew rivalries when they go head-to head at the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon on January 21.
After last year's three-way battle with eventual winner and compatriot Haile Gebrselassie, the two are no longer unknown quantities in international distance running and will be among the favourites to lift the $250,000 (Dh918,250) first prize. Just 13 seconds separated them in Dubai in 2010 with Dechase taking second in 2:06:33 just 24 seconds behind Ethiopian legend Gebrselassie.
Impressive record
The 26 year-old Dechase has a good marathon track record — his previous best over the 42.2km distance had been an impressive 2:08:31 for second place in Amsterdam in 2008, while just as striking was the manner of his victory in the Great Ethiopian Run over 10km, held in Addis Ababa a month after his marathon in the Netherlands.
On that occasion, he beat Deriba Merga, who had finished fourth in Beijing's Olympic Marathon, into third place, rewarding the faith shown in him by his coach Getaneh Tessema.
Although he struggled to 15th place in 2:14:57 in Boston in April 2010, he returned to Amsterdam having regained form, taking third place in 2:07:23 in October and returns to Dubai aiming to go one better in the world's richest marathon.
For several years 28 year-old Wendimu was one of Gebrselassie's favourite pacemakers. His successful marathon debut in Dubai in 2009 culminated in third place in 2:08:41 12 months before that current personal best of 2:06:46.
