Dubai
(UAE): Former champions Lemi Berhanu and Worknesh Degefa will be among the
powerful elite line-up when the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon celebrates
its 20th
edition on the streets of the UAE on January 25.
The
two Ethiopians – winners in 2015 and 2017 respectively – are key figures in the
roll of honour of the Middle East’s biggest mass participation event, the only
IAAF Gold Label Marathon in the region.
Lemi
has performed well on the global stage but his best performances have always
been on the flat and fast streets of Dubai. As well as winning the title four
years ago in a time of 2h:05m:28s, he set his personal best at the event when
as defending champion he finished runner-up in 2016 in 2h:04:33.
Still
only 25, Lemi has also competed at World Championship level and at the Rio
Olympics in 2016. Like an increasing number of
elite runners, he has also prospered at the marathon distance in China, winning
the Hengshui title with 2h:08m:51s in September 2018, the Xiamen Marathon in
2017 (2h:08m:27s) and the 2014 Taiyuan Marathon (2h:13m:10s).
Held
under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum,
Crown Prince of Dubai, and staged under the aegis of the Dubai Sports Council,
the 2019 Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon will welcome a number of the world’s
best athletes as the marathon celebrates its 20th anniversary with elite fields in both
the men and women’s races.
Among
the leading elite women in the line-up, Worknesh
Degefa who stunned the athletics world in 2017 by winning on her marathon debut
in Dubai. The Ethiopian caused quite an upset beating a strong field of
experienced marathon runners in a time of 2h:22m:36s although she was
disappointed 12 months later.
Running in the defence of her crown Worknesh set a new personal
best 2h:19m:53s yet failed to break into the top three as the Standard
Chartered Dubai Marathon once again proved its strength in depth with four
women breaking the 2h:20m – the first time the feat has ever been achieved in
one race.
“It’s very unusual that a runner will break the 2:20 mark and
not win a marathon,” said Event Director Peter Connerton. “But that just shows
how deep the quality runs in our elite fields. Last year we had seven men break
2h:05m – a unique result in marathon history – so the athletes competing in
Dubai know they have to be at their very best to get among the medals.”
The
elite marathon athletes will get their race underway at 6am on January 25, five
minutes after the wheelchair athletes take to the course. The mass marathon
field will face the starting gun at 7am with the 10km Road Race beginning at
8.30am and the 4km Fun Run at 10.30am. Runners looking to register can still do
so by visiting the official website www.dubaimarathon.org.
In addition to Standard
Chartered as title sponsor, the Dubai Marathon is supported by the Dubai Sports
Council, adidas, Dubai Eye 103.8FM, Aquafina and Gatorade, Dubai Holding, Dubai
Police, Dubai Municipality and RTA.