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Gebrselassie wins Dubai Marathon

Ethiopian produces an emphatic show in Dubai Marathon but falls just short of rewriting his own world record.

  • By K.R. Nayar, Staff Reporter
  • Published: 10:23 January 18, 2008
  • Gulf News

  • Image Credit: Reuters
  • Haile Gebrselassie ran the second fastest time in history at the Dubai Marathon.
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Dubai: Breezing through the streets of Dubai, Haile Gebrselassie wrote a golden chapter in the history of the Standard Chartered Dubai marathon on Friday. He recorded the second fastest timing in the annals of marathon, but failed to rewrite his own world record by just 27 seconds.

Cheered by thousands of Ethiopians who thronged the finish line at the Zabeel Park, Gebrselassie stormed to victory in 2:04:53 and walked away with the richest ever marathon first prize of $250,000.

Had he erased his world mark of 2:04:26, which he set four months ago in Berlin, he would have been richer by another $1 million.

So emphatic was Gebrselassie's victory that runner up Issac Macharia of Kenya reached the finish line after a gap of two minutes and 23 seconds.

Sammy Korir of Kenya, who had once clinched a place in the marathon record books as the second fastest runner, finished third. Despite the spectacular finish by the runners, Gebrselassie's near miss of the world record was the talk of the day.

"I started off to fast and paid the prize for it. I am sorry I could not break the world record but I am happy at having run a good race," said Gebrselassie, who was 45 seconds up on his Berlin world record pace at the half way stage and stretched it to 61 seconds for a potential finishing time of under 2:03.

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Gebrselassie maintained his world record charge even till the 35km mark when he had 25 seconds in hand but could not do it in the end. The world record attempt overshadowed even the splendid clean sweep by the Ethiopians in the women's event.

Loud applause

Berhane Adere of Ethiopia erased Dubai marathon course record to win in 2:22:42 and pocket the richest prize money in women's marathon history.

However, the women who won the loudest applause was Bezenushe Bekele. Running in her first competitive marathon, she finished second with a timing of 2:23:09.

Last year's champion Askale Tafa Magarsa, running faster than last year, could finish only third with a timing of 2:23:23.

Thousands of Ethiopians danced before the victory podium celebrating their runners spectacular performance. They mobbed Gebrselassie after he received the winners trophy from Shaikh Ahmad Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Tansania's Elisante Forro won the men's 10km beating his compatriot Pascal Mombo by 15 seconds. Tesfaye Girmashifaw of Ethiopia finished third.

Astrid McKeown won the women's 10km with a timing of 36:46.

Results

Marathon (Men):

1. Haile Gebrselassie, Ethiopia, 2:04:53.

2. Isaac Macharia, Kenya, 2:07:16.

3. Sammy Korir, Kenya, 2:08:01.

4. Gudisa Shentema Kudama, Ethiopia, 2:09:27.

5. Tesfaye Tola, Ethiopia, 2:09:38.

Marathon (Women):

1. Berhane Adere, Ethiopia, 2: 22: 42

2. Bezunushe Bekele, Ethiopia, 2:23:09.

3. Askale Tafa Magarsa, Ethiopia, 2:23:23.

4. Rose Jelagat, Cheruiyot, Kenya, 2:25:48.

5. Alice Chelengat, Kenya, 2:27:29.

10km (Men):

1. Elisante Forro, Tanzania, 0:29:17.

2.Pascal Mombo, Tanzania, 0:29:32

3. Tesfaye Gimashifaw, Ethiopia, 0:29:32.

10km (Women):

Astrid Mckewon: 0:36:46

Petra Jerejian: 0:38:21

Svetlana Blazevic 0:38:26

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