Elite chasing $1m world record

Dubai: The best runners from around the world have arrived here to vie for honours in the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon on Friday.

With the world record holder Haile Gebrselassie leading the pack, the attention of world athletes will be on Dubai from 7am.

Given the conditions here, especially the flat and straight course, Gebrselassie is expected to erase his own world mark of 2:04:26, which he set in Berlin on September 30 last year.

The organisers have transformed the event into the richest marathon of all time by offering $1 million (Dh3.75 million) in prize money.

To urge Gebrselassie as well as the runners in both sexes to give their best, Dubai Holding has offered a bonus of $1 million (Dh3.75 million) to anyone who breaks the current world record.

"It is not money that has attracted me to come and race here. It is my urge to create another world record in Dubai," said Gebrselassie to Gulf News.

The heavy rains that lashed the city during the last few days had posed a threat to the event.

However, Ahmad Al Kamali, the general coordinator of the event, said: "We will go ahead with the marathon whatever the weather condition. We have made all arrangements to make the course comfortable for the runners."

The marathon race will be followed by a 10km race set to start from 10.30am and a 4km fun run from 11.30am.

To popularise running in UAE, special prizes are in offer for the top performers among the UAE nationals.

For the first time, the races will begin from a new starting line on the road outside Zabeel Park Gate six. The organisers have made special arrangements in and around this gate for families to enjoy music, entertainment and children's activities.

Though the spotlight is on the best runners, Peter Connerton, the event coordinator, said: "The amateur and part-time runners are equally important to us. A great deal of attention will be on the marathon and a possible world record but we want all runners to enjoy the day no matter which distance they are running."

Sammy Korir, the third fastest man in the history of the marathon, New York marathon winner Rodgers Rop and former world half marathon champion Fabiano Joseph are all here.

Kenya's Willy Todo Rotich, the defending champion who almost erased the course record of 2:09:33 set by Joseph Kahugu in 2003, is hoping to do it this time. "I fell short of the mark by 20 seconds and hopefully I may do it this time and defend the title," said Rotich.

Equally confident is the women's defending champion Askale Tafa Magarsa who created history here by erasing the course record set by Albina Ivanova of Russian in 2002. "I have worked hard for four months for a repeat performance here," she said.

Given the conditions here, especially the flat and straight course, Gebrselassie is expected to erase his own world mark.