Dubai: Haile Gebrselassie raced to another victory in the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon yesterday but a downpour washed away his plans of breaking his own world record.
Cheered by thousands of spectators, he finished in 2h:5m:29s - 90 seconds off his world record of 2h:03m.59sec, which he set in Berlin last year.
The runner won $250,000 for winning the Dubai Marathon for the second year in succession. He won the last year's marathon clocking 2:04:53.
Although Gebrselassie got off to a splendid start and completed the first half 20 seconds inside the world record pace, the downpour late into the race and a slight headwind on the return leg through Beach Road slowed him down.
"Everybody was expecting me to break the world record, but in conditions like this you cannot think about records. All that you can do is to give the best you can," said Gebrselassie, who still went on to post the eighth fastest time in marathon history.
Gebrselassie led a clean sweep by the Ethiopians, beating compatriots Deressa Edae Chimsa, who finished in 2:07:54, and Wendimu Tsige, who completed in 2:08:41.
The women's race too was keenly fought. Last year's runner-up Bezunesh Bekele (Ethiopia) raced to victory in 2:24m.02sec, finishing ahead of compatriot Astede Habtamu Besuye, who clocked 2:25:17. Kenya's Helena Kirpop, by clinching the third place in 2:25:35, prevented a clean sweep by the Ethiopians.
It was disappointing for the thousands of Ethiopians who screamed "Hail the Haile" as he raced through rain-soaked course. The headwind took its toll during the last 10km.
"I thank every spectator who sang and cheered for me braving the rain. I will return again next year," he said. More than 10,000 runners participated in the marathon, and the 10km and the 3km fun race despite the rain.
The men's 10km produced a spectacular finish with Eritrea's Habtai Kifestsion and Moussie Weldemichael clocking the same time of 30m:12s. Othmane Chaibi of Morocco finished third in 30m32s.
In the women's event Emma Philip of Great Britain finished first in 37m25s, ahead of Finland's Anne Mari Hyrylainen (40m:12s) and Australian Amanda Peters (41m:31s).
Mattar Al Tayer, the vice president of the Dubai Sports Council, gave away the winner's trophy and prize money.
