Ras Al Khaimah: Kenyan runners Patrick Makau and Salina Kosgei won the men's and women's divisions in a fiercely contested Ras Al Khaimah International Half Marathon, the richest in the world with over $200,000 in prize money, on Friday.
In a dramatic finish, 22-year-old Makau, won by the narrowest of margins from Ethiopia's Tsegaye Kebede. Both crossed the finish line in 59 minutes 33 seconds, however, Makau was fractionally faster.
Dickson Marwa Mkami from Tanzania finished third in 59 minutes 50 seconds, as African runners swept the top three places.
Makau's spectacular time of 59:33 however was not enough to smash Samuel Wanjiru's 2007 record of 58:33.
The women's race matched the men's for excitement with three runners chesting the tape in a time of 1:12:27. Kosgei won in the photo-finish, ahead of compatriot and last year's Milan Marathon winner, Pamela Chepchumba.
Atsede Habtamu of Ethiopia was third.
The event was once again under the patronage of Shaikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, the Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, who fired the starting air horn setting the runners off on their 21.0975km race.
Weather conditions were perfect for this the second annual RAK Half Marathon and many experts predicted a super fast time with 8 male elite runners with race times sub sixty. As it turned out only four made that happen this Friday morning.
Prize money this year totalled over $200,000 including $5,000 for the first UAE National that crossed the finish line.
Ali Sabit claimed the prize, clocking 1:11:26 for the distance.
Annual event
Charity is once again set to benefit and one new edition this year to the RAK Half Marathon charity list is Shoe4africa who said, "We've received an overwhelming response and being here in RAK has been fantastic, people have been really generous donating their shoes- every pair helps."
The Paul Tergat foundation is also once more set to benefit as the official charity of the RAK Half Marathon.
As an annual event, the athletics community is embracing this Half Marathon and with 82 nationalities taking part this year, it continues to grow.
Shaikh Saud said: "For this race to encourage so many people to travel to Ras Al Khaimah and join together in the spirit of competition, to raise awareness and funding for many charitable causes and promote active and healthy lifestyle shows that is race already travelled quite some distance."
He added that Ras Al Khaimah is open to all making it a lifestyle destination.
"RAK is planned to be a bridge bringing the history alive and capturing the future."
Shaikh Saud said he was happy with the big participation of 1,232 participants of different nationalities from around the world.
"This year's organisation is better than last year's inaugural RAK International Half Marathon which is an annual event that will be given maximum care and attention," he said. "The even has proved to be successful in getting people from around the glob together," he added.
"RAK established itself as a racing venue last year," he said. "This race has encouraged so many people to travel to Ras Al Khaimah and join together in the spirit of competition," he said.
Patrick Makau who came second in the first RAK International Half Marathon said he carefully planned to top this year's edition of the race.
"Since last year, I decided to win the next year's edition where his dreams came true," he said.
Makau who has breached the once formidable 60-minute barrier three times in 2007, with a personal best of 58.56, making him the world's number three at the distance added that by the finishing line, he won the race as he stored some energy for the finishing line.
