FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DUBAI MARATHON ON 7TH JANUARY:
Olympic Year begins in Dubai
Distance runners looking to qualify for the Paris Olympics in midsummer
next year get two early opportunities in the United Arab Emirates, with the
Dubai Marathon opening the athletics year on January 7, followed by the Ras
Al Khaimah half-marathon, now under the same management, on February 24.
Heading the Dubai women's entries so far are Haven Hailu Desse of Ethiopia
and Betty Chepkwony of Kenya. Hailu Desse scored two notable victories in
the last 18 months, taking the Rotterdam title in 2022, in 2hr 22min 01sec,
and the Osaka Women's Marathon two months ago in 2:21:13; while her best
remains 2:20:19 from Amsterdam 2019. Chepkwony made her breakthrough on the
international marathon scene by winning in Rome nine months ago in a
personal best of 2:23:02.
In the men's field, Ethiopians Workineh Tadese Mandefro and Kebede Tulu
Wami lead the way with the former's personal best of 2:05:07 coming in
Hamburg 2022. Tulu is only a few seconds slower, his best of 2:05:19 earned
him second place Seville in nine months ago.
Traffic restrictions in downtown Dubai last year saw the first
post-pandemic marathon staged around Expo City, where the COP 28 climate
conference has just concluded. But next month's race sees a return to the
flat, fast, coast-hugging course, which has proved such a hit in the past.
Peter Connerton, race director for the organising company PACE Events,
says, "The athletes are excited about the event returning to the flat
course around Umm Suqeim, the Burj Al Arab and the Jumeirah Beach Road,
which is renowned for delivering fast times. The elite field is looking
strong with several more names to be confirmed in the coming days".
The Dubai Marathon was inaugurated in 1998, and the Ras Al Khaimah ‘half',
in one of the smaller, coastal emirates half a dozen years later. Both
races have become celebrated for fast times, with the latter results
regularly under 59 minutes. For the first time, both races come under the
umbrella of PACE Events, who are adding an RAK international 10k to the
programme. Race Director Connerton says, "We are honoured to be entrusted
with organising the Ras Al Khaimah Half-Marathon. Over the years, the race
has produced some fast times and world-class winners; and with 2024 being
an Olympic year, we expect to have an even better field. Similarly, by
adding a 10k to the schedule we aim to make race day in RAK bigger and
better than ever".
For more information please visit www.dubaimarathon.org.
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