Ethiopians “March Forward” again in Dubai
If there is a soundtrack Annual Dubai Marathonit is the national anthem of Ethiopia; so often athletes from East African countries win this tournament. “March on, dear mother Ethiopia” It sounded twice again this morning around the Dubai Police Academy Parade Ground, the impressive new start and finish area of ​​the race, as Nibret Melak and: Anchinalu Dessier won the men’s and women’s races in two hours and four minutes and 2.18.31 respectively. Their wins in this 25th anniversary event bring the national mark to 19 for the women and 18 for the men.
Making it six in a row for Ethiopian debutant men in Dubai, Melak’s victory was particularly impressive. He was part of an unusually large group of 20 who crossed the halfway mark in 62.07; and they were still pretty much all in the fight until the last pacesetter dropped out at 35k. It was, as always, a signal for the pace to drop as well, with potential winners unwilling to take over and be attacked by predators biding their time. Melak had no such worries. After the 36th kilometer in exactly three minutes, he ran the next kilometer ten seconds faster and was so well and full of run that it was clear that no one was going to challenge him in the last half dozen kilometers. He weakened only slightly, tiring in the last kilometer; but by then it was a job well done and he was almost two minutes ahead of training partner Yassin Hadji, who finished second in 2.05.52, and third was the flamboyant Rwandan John Hakizimana, who finished exhausted but delighted to learn that his third-placed 2.06.04 had broken the national record by 50.
“I didn’t really know what to expect going into my first marathon,” Melak said afterward through a translator. “My coach said he thought I could do something with 2.03 and luckily he was on the bike watching the race so he could encourage me. he has helped me a lot. We had planned for me to try to stop at 32 kilometers, but the pacemaker stayed on until 35 kilometers, so I waited until then.” He even dared. “My big goal is to break the world record,” but in 2.00.35 at the sadly deceased Kelvin Kiptum, it won’t be as easy as Melak did on his debut.
speech coach Moan Dedefo had even more reason to be satisfied, as not only are the two winners his trainees, but both are runners-up. But he clearly hears the concerns of his fellow athletes, admitting after his victory that he didn’t want Desi to compete again so soon after his victory in the Beijing Marathon three months ago. “He convinced me he was fine, and he proved it, but I don’t want them running again anytime soon, like in the spring marathons (London, Boston, etc.). I prefer to wait until autumn.
If Melak followed tradition, albeit with debutant winners in Dubai recently, Desi displayed a habit that many athletes can only envy. He knows how to win. Three marathons so far; three wins; started in Seville 11 months ago on 2.22.17; in early November, followed by Beijing on 2.26.08. ‘But this was the best because it was the fastest,’ he said, knocking three and a half minutes off his previous record. ‘But it was also the most difficult because my friend (Moulier Dekebo) was still with me two kilometers from the end. But Dekebo had to stop 1,600 meters from the finish when his breakfast reappeared. He rallied enough to take second in 2.18.43, which was also a personal best and still well ahead of previous race favorite Fantu Worku, who never looked comfortable after halfway, but finished third in 2.19.08, another personal best.
Weather conditions were some of the best in the event’s history, 14C (57F) at the start at 05.45, barely two degrees higher at the elite finish. It Dubai Marathon the organizers now have their own race. After this 25th anniversary event to find out and travel to the neighboring emirate of Ras Al Khaimah where they will also be hosting the RAK Half Marathon in just 13 days time on February 14th.
Results, men.
1. Nibret Melak ETH 2:04:00
2. Yasin Haji ETH 2:05:52
3. John Hakizimana RWA2:06:04
4. Molalign Fantahun ETH 2:06:48
5. Gizealew Ayana ETH 2:06:48
6. Life Geleta Eth 2:06:5
7. Berehanu TSEGU ETH 2:07:13
8. Gadisa Tafa Et 2:07:5
9. Dechasa Alemu Et 2:08:2
10. Belay Bezabeh ETH 2:08:23
Women.
1. Anchinalu Dessie ETH 2:18:31
2. Muliye Dekebo ETH 2:18:43
3. Fantu Worku ETH 2:19:08
4. Tiringo Mulu ETH 2:21:12
5. Maritu Ketema ETH 2:21:25
6. Askale Alemaheyu ETH 2:22:56
7. About Middle Shilima 2:23:04
8. Fantu Shugi ETH 2:23:29
9. Eliphinesh Kill ETH 2:23:30
10. Abebech Afework ETH 2:23:52
For more information, please visit www.dubaimarathon.org
