Dubai: Kenya will be aiming to deny Ethiopia a Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon hat-trick next month.
Both countries have seven men’s wins each since the event started in 2000. But the Kenyans have only won the event once — to Ethiopia’s five — in the past six years. That success came when David Barmasai Tumo burst on to the scene in 2011.
In the women’s category, Kenya have fared even worse. Ethiopia have nine event wins — seven of them in a row — to Kenya’s one.
But now the Kenyans are looking to restore parity, despite Ethiopia fielding a good mix of youth and experience for the January 24 event.
Jonathan Maiyo, 25, carries Kenyan hopes on his shoulders after breaking his personal best by almost eight minutes in Dubai last year. He improved from 2 hours 12 minutes 45 seconds to 2:04:56, but that was still only good enough for fourth place behind three Ethiopians. Also returning to Dubai is Kenya’s Nicholas Kipkemboi, who made his marathon debut in Dubai this year, clocking 2:06:33 for sixth position.
One of Ethiopia’s strongest contenders will be Markos Geneti, who edged out Maiyo for third last year. The Ethiopian finished two seconds ahead with a personal best of 2:04:54 and is one of nine sub-2:07 runners in the field.
Hoping to make it a third consecutive win for Ethiopian marathon debutants is Atsedu Tsegay, who won the New Delhi Half Marathon last week. The 21-year-old clocked 59 minutes and 12 seconds to break the course record, while his half marathon best is an even more impressive 58:47.
Abera Kuma is another promising Ethiopian making his marathon debut in Dubai in 2014. The 23-year-old has twice qualified for the World Championships, finishing fifth in the 5,000m in 2011 and repeating that feat this year in the 10,000m in Moscow. He made his half marathon debut in Birmingham last year, finishing second in 60:19.
Runners wanting to register for the marathon, the 10km men’s or women’s events or the 3km Fun Run can visit www.dubaimarathon.org