Press Release - Dubai Marathon - 12/19/13

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    Kenyan Men Have Strong Hopes of Regaining Top Honours in Dubai But  
                   Ethiopian Debutants Pose a Threat

Kenyan runners have an imposing record of success in the major city 
marathons in recent years but Dubai is an exception to the rule. Ethiopians 
rule the roost when it comes to the men's competition on this superfast 
course.

Kenya has produced a men's champion on just one of the past six occasions 
when David Barmasai broke through on the international scene three years 
ago. Otherwise Ethiopia has dominated with their athletes showing an 
unprecedented depth of talent in the past two years. By coincidence, both 
men's winners were debutants at the classic road distance who promptly ran 
world-class times. Ayele Abshero broke the course record with 2:04:23 in 
2012 and Lelisa Desisa clocked 2:04:45 last year. When the next edition is 
staged on 24th January the Kenyans will be going all out to reclaim 
supremacy. But the Ethiopian blend of experience and promising debutants 
could prove a potent mix.

The Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon is an IAAF Gold Label Road Race. 
Entry for non-elite runners is still possible via the website: 
www.dubaimarathon.org World-class athletes and mass runners alike will be 
competing on a new course, which 

promises to be even faster than the old one. This latest version of the 
42.195 kilometres has just two corners and two turns to be negotiated!

"We are putting together a talented field of elites for the marathon with a 
great mix of experienced runners and up and coming potential. These 
athletes know that a race time that would normally win any other major race 
might not even be good enough for a podium place in Dubai so they have to 
be at their best. Last year, the top five were all under 2:05 - a first in 
marathon history - with a fantastic fight to the finish line. With a great 
field taking shape for January 24, we should be in for yet another fast and 
hard fought race in 2014," said Peter Connerton, the Event Director of the 
Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon.

Jonathan Maiyo will be the standard bearer of Kenyan hopes in Dubai and he 
has every reason to be confident for his next challenge in the Emirates. In 
2012 he smashed his personal best by almost eight minutes, improving from 
2:12:45 to 2:04:56. No doubt about it, that was a world-class time but only 
good enough for fourth place on that occasion, trailing an Ethiopian trio. 
The 25 year-old has run one marathon this year, finishing 10th in Tokyo in 
2:10:18. He has every intention of being back at his best for Dubai.

Also returning to this superflat course is Nicholas Kipkemboi, who made his 
marathon debut in Dubai in January, clocking a fine 2:06:33 for sixth 
place. He was then supposed to run another fast marathon in Berlin in 
September but the 27 year-old went to the World Championships in Moscow 
instead, where he dropped out of the marathon. Dubai now offers a welcome 
opportunity to bounce back.

One of the strongest opponents from Ethiopian will be Markos Geneti. 
Jonathan Maiyo needs no reminder of his abilities: In Dubai's 2012 race 
Geneti just edged out Maiyo for third place. The Ethiopian finished two 
seconds ahead with a PB of 2:04:54. As it stands, the 29 year-old will be 
the fastest runner in the field on 24th January. However, more runners are 
likely to be added to the line-up in the coming weeks. 

Two Ethiopian debutants have won the recent editions of the Standard 
Chartered Dubai Marathon in spectacular style. Might there be a third 
consecutive upset in a couple of weeks? One of those who will make their 
debut in the Emirates has just shown great form: Atsedu Tsegay won the New 
Delhi Half Marathon last Sunday. Competing against a very strong field the 
21 year-old Ethiopian showed he has fully recovered an ankle injury which 
kept him out of competition for almost a year. Tsegay clocked 59:12 minutes 
and broke the course record in India while his half marathon best is an 
even more impressive 58:47. 

Abera Kuma is another promising Ethiopian making his debut at the marathon 
in Dubai. The 23 year-old has proven track pedigree, twice qualifying for 
the World Championships. At the age of 20 he was fifth in the 5,000 m final 
in Daegu in South Korea in 2011 and this summer he repeated that position 
in the 10,000 m in Moscow. Last year he gave a strong indication of his 
ability on the road, making his half marathon debut in Birmingham and 
finished second with 60:19. Now he moves up to the full distance and his 
track speed could prove tailor-made for a fast marathon course like Dubai.

More information and online entry is available at: www.dubaimarathon.org

                                ###