Ethiopian Runners Dominate in Dubai
Ethiopia dominated across the board in Dubai with Tamirat Tola and Worknesh Degefa winning the men’s and women’s marathons.
After pre-race favourite Kenenisa Bekele retired, Tola seized his opportunity to set a new course record with a time of 02:04:11 ahead of countrymen Mule Wasihun and Sisay Lemma. The men’s race eventually finished with 9 Ethiopian runners in the top 10, fifth placed Kenyan Mark Pkorir Lokwanamoi the only runner not from the East African country.
The domination continued in the women’s race as the whole top 10 was made up of Ethiopian runners with Degefa finishing ahead of compatriots Shure Demise and Yebrgual Melese.
The men’s wheelchair race proved to be one of the most competitive in the sport’s history. Spaniard Rafael Botello Jimenez beat Irishman Patrick Monahan by just 3 seconds with a time of 01:31:19. 2016 Champion JohnBoy Smith from the UK was third, with Canada’s world record holder Josh Cassidy in fourth.
For more results and information, please head to DubaiMarathon.org