Ethiopa’s Getaneh Molla won the Dubai Marathon ahead of compatriot Herpassa Negasa on Friday, as both runners broke the course record set by Mosinet Geremew last year.
Molla endured a tough challenge from Negasa in the closing stages to cross the finish line in 2:03:34 as the Ethiopans dominated the 20th edition of the race.
Ethiopia’s Getaneh Tamire Molla sets a new #Dubai Marathon record and emerges as the winner of 2019’s Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon with a timing of 2:03:34.
Photo courtesy: @gulf_news pic.twitter.com/wJ9y1jYPv1— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) January 25, 2019
The duo took full advantage of good conditions for running to eclipse the time of two hours and four minutes set by compatriot Geremew last year.
Asefa Mengstu completed an all Ethiopian podium with 2:04:24 for third place.
Kenya’s Ruth Chepngetich won the women’s race with a time of 2:17:08 to become the third fastest woman in marathon history after Briton Paula Radcliffe (2:15:25) and compatriot Mary Keitany (2:17:01).
Kenya’s Ruth Chepngetich came first in the women’s #Dubai Marathon race with a time of 2:17:07, breaking the record of Roza Dereje (2:19:17) in the 2018 edition.
Photo courtesy: @gulf_news pic.twitter.com/aWvYNag4m5— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) January 25, 2019
Debutant Chepngetich, who set her previous best en route to winning the Istanbul Marathon two months ago, finished ahead of Ethiopians Worknesh Degefa Debele and Workenesh Edesa Gurmesa.
The men’s and women’s winners took home $100,000 each with the organisers reducing the prize pot by half this year, after the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) did not grant the event a platinum label.
Athletics’ governing body said last October that a marathon must have a minimum of 15,000 finishers, among other criteria, to be given a platinum label as part of its new regulations for road races