Berhane returns to defend Dubai title

Dubai: One year after the biggest payday of her athletics career, Ethiopia's Berhane Adere will return to Dubai to defend her title in the 2009 Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon on January 16.

Last year, the 35 year–old set a new Dubai record for the women's event when she stormed to victory in a time of 2h:22m:42s to collect gold and $250,000 (Dh918,250).

"We are delighted that Berhane has decided to defend her title in Dubai," said Event Director Peter Connerton.

"Her win and new race record means she is part of the history of our event and will always be welcome on the streets of Dubai."

Although Adere failed to finish after dropping out at the 30lm mark in the marathon at the Beijing Olympics, she followed her win in Dubai with seventh place in the London Marathon and will surely start the 2009 Dubai Marathon as a race favourite.

"It was a great race for me in Dubai and I like the course very much," she said.

"I was obviously delighted to have won in what was a very good time and I look forward to coming back."

The Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon will see Adere up against the woman she beat to the title fellow Ethiopian Bezenushe Bekele.