FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tenacity and Opportunism Win The Day In Dubai
For tenacity, Worknesh Degefa was the star of the show in the 21st
anniversary race of the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon this morning, the
Ethiopian enduring mid-race physical problems to clock 2.19.38 and win the
women's race. But for sheer opportunism, debutants Olika Adugna of Ethiopia
and Eric Kiptanui of Kenya carried the day, outwitting the tried and tested
marathoners, to finish first and second in the men's race, in 2.06.15 and
2.06.17.
Degefa won by half a minute from compatriot Guteni Shone, with another
Ethiopian Bedatu Hirpa further back in third; but the measure of the
blanket finish of the men's race was that Beshah Yerssie ran 2.06.34, which
would have been a world record two decades ago, yet his 11th place meant he
got zero prize money.
The mass sprint was more reminiscent of a track event. And sure enough the
sprinters won; or rather the former track men. The experienced marathoners
were keeping a close eye on one other and ignoring Adugna and Kiptanui, but
when it came down to speed rather than staying power, Adugna followed the
initial sprint of Kiptanui from 500 metres out, then whizzed past him after
another 100 metres, and took the victory and the $100,000 first prize. Two
more Ethiopians followed on 2.06.18, with Tsedat Abeje getting the nod over
Lencho Tesfaye.
Degefa won this race on her own debut in 2017, and finished fourth the
following year, yet though she could only finish second to Ruth Cheongetich
last year, she said that her national record of 2.17.41 followed by victory
in Boston last April meant that she now felt 'really confident as a
marathon runner'. Accordingly, she set out to underline her status as
world's sixth fastest woman. She asked for a fast pace, and approaching
halfway, with a lead of over a minute, she was on course for a 2.16
clocking. But then a back injury that has blighted her training and caused
her miss New York in November flared up, and looking distinctly
uncomfortable, she dropped off the pace. With her lead reduced considerably
by the end, she only just managed to cross the line before collapsing and
needing medical attention. But she revived soon enough to say, 'I'm really
proud that I managed to keep going when my back was giving me so many
problems. I want to sort them out, because my aim is to represent my
country in the Olympic Games (Tokyo in August)'. That would be after
defending her Boston title in April.
Degefa also won $100,000, out of an overall prize pot of a million dollars.
And after expressing his surprise that the leaders should have followed a
relatively sedate pace - 'at 40k, I realised that, with my speed I could
win,' - Adugna underlined the financial primacy of road running, and
marathons in particular nowadays when he completely dismissed the idea of
returning to track. Then again, a hundred grand is a powerful argument for
sticking to the roads.
Of the several runners from across the world who were seeking an Olympic
qualifying time, the best was Kenyan-born Mexican Risper Biyaki, but her
2.30.59 for tenth place was ten seconds off her best, and still over a
minute outside the Tokyo qualifying time. As for late entrant, Japanese
men's record holder, Suguru Osako, it turned out that he only wanted to run
to 25k against a class field, and demonstrate to the national selectors
that despite his third place in the Olympic Trial which should qualify him
for Tokyo anyway, he is still maintaining quality form. The way he was
dropping off the pace and then surging back to the front suggests that are
no problems in that department.
RESULTS
MEN
1. Olika Adugna ETH 2:06:15
2. Eric Kiptanui KEN 2.06:17
3. Tsedat Abeje ETH 2:06:18
4. Lencho Tesfaye ETH 2:06:18
5. Yitayal Atnafu ETH 2:06:21
6. Yihunilign Adane ETH 2:06:22
7. Aychew Bantie ETH 2:06:23
8. Seifu Tura ETH 2:06:26
9. Chalu Deso ETH 2:06:29
10. Zewudu Hailu ETH 2:06:31
WOMEN
1. Worknesh Degefa ETH 2:19:38
2. Guteni Shone ETH 2:20:11
3. Bedatu Hirpa ETH 2:21:55
4. Tigist Abayechew ETH 2:22:45
5. Dera Dida ETH 2:22:52
6. Hawi Feysa ETH 2:23:36
7. Bezunesh Deba ETH 2:26:59
8. Obst Abdeta ETH 2:29:30
9. Buze Diriba ETH 2:30:18
10. Risper Biyaki MEX 2:30:59
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