{"id":1766,"date":"2013-01-25T07:52:28","date_gmt":"2013-01-25T13:52:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.time-to-run.com\/marathon\/?p=1766"},"modified":"2013-01-25T07:52:28","modified_gmt":"2013-01-25T13:52:28","slug":"ethiopians-dominate-dubai-2013","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.time-to-run.com\/marathon\/news\/ethiopians-dominate-dubai-2013\/","title":{"rendered":"Ethiopians dominate Dubai 2013"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Tirfi<\/a>

Tirfi Tsegaye wins Dubai Marathon 2013<\/p><\/div>\n

It was Ethiopians all the way, as they swept their Kenyan rivals from the board in both men\u2019s and women\u2019s races at the 14th Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon, on a foggy Friday morning in the Emirates.<\/p>\n

Lelisa Desisa, 23, only got away from his rivals in the final 200 metres, but the marathon debutant won in 2.04.45, for the 13th fastest time in history; and with four other men close behind, the quintet thus beat last year\u2019s Dubai record of being the first marathon in history to feature four sub-2.05 men.<\/p>\n

Desisa\u2019s colleague, long-time race leader Berhanu Shiferaw was second in 2.04.48, while another compatriot, veteran Tadesse Tola clocked a personal best 2.04.49 in third. Yet another Ethiopian, Endeshaw Negesse was fourth in 2:04:52, and Kenyan debutant Bernard Koech finished fifth with 2:04:53.<\/p>\n

But the Ethiopians scourged their East African rivals, with seven in the top ten men, only bettered by their female colleagues, who registered the top six.<\/p>\n

All week in the event hotel, the Ethiopian coaches were warning us to look out for Desisa, but it was the unheralded Shiferaw, a 2.08.51 man, who provided the impetus throughout virtually the whole race for the fast finishing time. He tracked the pacemakers from the start, and was never absent from the lead trio though some variable weather conditions.<\/p>\n

The early fog for the 7am start (15C) dissipated when the leaders hit the coast after eight kilometres, but on the lengthy stretch down the beach road, the fog returned even thicker, bringing high humidity with it.<\/p>\n

A million dollar prize pot is sure to bring out the bounty hunters, proof of which was 20 world class marathoners still in contention at halfway, reached in a surprisingly sedate 62.39. But Shiferaw\u2019s efforts from then on were going to ensure a second half over 30 seconds faster.<\/p>\n

Another feature of the second half was the tenacity of Tola. With a best of 2.05.10, set in finishing fifth here last year, Tola looked a spent force at 35k. But despite dropping off the lead group, by now down to a half dozen, a couple of times, Tola fought his way back into contention, and used his experience of previous marathons to force his way into third place.<\/p>\n

If the Ethiopian coaches were aware of Desisa\u2019s good form in training, they were shocked by Shiferaw taking four minutes off his best, and emerging as another marathon force. \u201cNobody expected this from him,\u201d said Gemedu Dedefo, coach to women\u2019s winner Tsegaye, \u201che surprised all of us\u201d.<\/p>\n

Except Desisa, that is. \u201cI tried to push the pace at 38k,\u201d he said via Dedefo, but the others responded strongly, so I decided to wait until the end. I have a good sprint and I was confident that it would win me the race. I had aimed for 2.06 for my debut, but when I saw the time at the finish I was shocked. If I can find a similarly good course, and my coach agrees, maybe next time I can go for the world record (2.03.38 by Kenyan Patrick Makau)\u201d.<\/p>\n

The winner comes from Oromia, homeland of the Bekele brothers, the Dibaba sisters and other athletics luminaries such as Olympic marathon winners, Fatuma Roba and Tiki Gelana. He said after his victory that he only ran sporadically at school, \u201cbut when I did I would win. I then entered a junior regional race, and won that. After that, I moved to Addis, and started training properly\u201d.<\/p>\n

He first emerged internationally in Mauritius in 2009, winning the African junior 10,000 metres title, in 28.46.74. He reduced that to 27.18.17 last year, having followed a well-worn path to marathon glory with several sub-60min half-marathons, including a gold medal in the All-Africa \u2018half\u2019 in Maputo in 2011.<\/p>\n

In contrast, the women\u2019s race lived up to predictions in all but the finishing time, according to the winner. Tirfi Tsegaye was a big favourite, following her victory in Paris last year and a second place in Berlin last October, in a marginally faster time, of 2.21.19. That persuaded her she could join the sub-2.20 club, like her training partner, Assefelech Mergia did, in winning here last year, in 2.19.31.<\/p>\n

Mergia is currently injured (like last year\u2019s men\u2019s speedy winner, in 2,04.23, Ayele Abshero), but Tsegaye kept the title in Oromia \u2013 the pair hail from Bekoji, the community made famous by the recent \u2018Town of Runners\u2019 documentary.<\/p>\n

Tsegaye was always part of the leading group, but by 30k, she was out on her own, and although slacking off in the final stages, still won by close to 20 seconds.<\/p>\n

\u201cI came with two aims,\u201d Tsegaye said through coach Dedefo, \u201cto win, and to run under 2.20. I was determined to push in the second half of the race, but by that time, it had become very humid, and it was affecting me. So I\u2019m happy to win, but unhappy I didn\u2019t break 2.20. I\u2019ll have to come back next year, and try again\u201d.<\/p>\n

Her colleagues, Ehitu Kiros and Amane Gobena gained ground on her in the last five kilometres, but finished behind her in that order, Kiros second in 2.23.39, and Gobena third, in 2.23.50<\/p>\n

RESULTS<\/p>\n

MEN<\/p>\n

Place bib number name\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 country\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 time\u00a0\u00a0 prize (USD)<\/p>\n

1\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 25\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Lelisa DESISA\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ETH\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2.04.45\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 200K
\n2\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 13\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Berhanu SHIFERAW\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ETH\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2.04.48\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 80K
\n3\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 5\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Tadese TOLA\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ETH\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2.04.49\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 40K
\n4\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 15\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Endeshaw NEGESSE\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ETH\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2.04.52\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 20K
\n5\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 24\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Bernard KOECH\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 KEN\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2.04.53\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 12K
\n6\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 28\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Nicholas KIPKEMBOI\u00a0 KEN\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2.06.33\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 11.2K
\n7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Dadi YAMI\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ETH\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2.07.55\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 10.4K
\n8\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 26\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Mike KIGEN\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 KEN\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2.08.24\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 9.6K
\n9\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 20\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Habtamu ASSEFA\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ETH\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2.08.28\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 8.8k
\n10\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 11\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Gemechu BIRU\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ETH\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2.08.53\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 8K<\/p>\n

WOMEN<\/p>\n

1\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Tirfi TSGAYE\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ETH\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2.23.23\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 200K
\n2\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 11\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Ehitu KIROS\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ETH\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2.23.39\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 80K
\n3\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 5\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Amane GOBENA\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ETH\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2.23.50\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 40K
\n4\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 17\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Aheza KIROS\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ETH\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2.24.30\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 20K
\n5\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 15\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Belaynesh OLJIRA\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ETH\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2.25.01\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 12K
\n6\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 6\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Shitaye BEDASA\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ETH\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2.25.47\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 11.2K
\n7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 4\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Issabella ANDERSSON SWE\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2.26.05\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 10.4K
\n8\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 12\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Abebech AFEWORK\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ETH\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2.27.08\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 9.6K
\n9\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 10\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Beata NAIGAMBO\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 NAM\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2.27.54\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 8.8K
\n10\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 9\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Misaki KATSUMATA\u00a0 JAP\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2.30.42\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 8K<\/p>\n

also see – Lelisa Desisa wins Dubai Marathon 2013<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It was Ethiopians all the way, as they swept their Kenyan rivals from the board in both men\u2019s and women\u2019s races at the 14th Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon, on a foggy Friday morning in the Emirates.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1767,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[73,15,18,29,1],"tags":[93,315,343,538,578,866],"class_list":["post-1766","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dubai","category-ethiopia","category-featured","category-kenya","category-news","tag-93","tag-dubai","tag-ethiopia","tag-lelisa-desisa","tag-marathon","tag-tirfi-tsgaye"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.time-to-run.com\/marathon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1766","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.time-to-run.com\/marathon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.time-to-run.com\/marathon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.time-to-run.com\/marathon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.time-to-run.com\/marathon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1766"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.time-to-run.com\/marathon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1766\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.time-to-run.com\/marathon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1767"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.time-to-run.com\/marathon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1766"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.time-to-run.com\/marathon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1766"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.time-to-run.com\/marathon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1766"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}