{"id":2040,"date":"2014-01-22T07:38:13","date_gmt":"2014-01-22T13:38:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.time-to-run.com\/marathon\/?p=2040"},"modified":"2014-01-22T07:38:13","modified_gmt":"2014-01-22T13:38:13","slug":"dubai-marathon-2014-preview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.time-to-run.com\/marathon\/news\/dubai-marathon-2014-preview\/","title":{"rendered":"Dubai Marathon 2014 preview"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Tsegay<\/a><\/p>\n

The 15th edition of the Dubai Marathon 2014 will feature a men\u2019s race where two sub 2:05 runners return to the premier running event of the region<\/em><\/p>\n

A combination of the biggest pot of prize money and most pancake-flat course among the major marathons means that extraordinary results can be expected in Dubai. The Standard Chartered DubaiMarathon has maintained that sequence and the tantalising prospect of a world record remains.<\/p>\n

The event will feature a men\u2019s race where two sub 2:05 runners return to the premier running event of the region: Markos Geneti (Ethiopia) and Jonathan Maiyo (Kenya<\/a>) are among the favourites for the 200,000 Dollar first prize. The women\u2019s race looks like an Ethiopian duel between Meselech Melkamu and Meseret Hailu. The Standard Chartered DubaiMarathon is an IAAF Gold Label Road Race.<\/p>\n

The course has undergone minor changes because of construction works and now has the potential to be faster than ever with just two corners and two U-turns left for the whole distance. Additionally the lowest and the highest points of the 42.195 k are just six metres apart. \u201cDubai is a developing city, so we constantly have to adapt. But we always look to improve the course,\u201d said Event Director Peter Connerton.<\/p>\n

As in the past the route stretches mainly along Dubai\u2019s Jumeirah Beach Road. In an area where building progress continue and new skyscrapers more or less \u201cturn up\u201d from one year to another, the elite runners could be on course for new heights as well. \u201cThis is probably the fastest course we have ever had,\u201d said Peter Connerton. \u201cWe are hoping for a time of sub 2:04 on Friday.\u201d Weather conditions look favourable, although there is always a risk of temperatures rising during the second hour of the race.<\/p>\n

Two years ago the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon had four runners breaking 2:05. It was the first time that was achieved on a marathon course eligible for records. A year ago there were even five men who ran inside 2:05 in a finish which is still unique in marathon running.<\/p>\n

Ethiopian Atsedu Tsegay to Debut<\/h2>\n

Two newcomers to the distance triumphed in the past two years, establishing themselves among the best in the world: Ayele Abshero won with a course record of 2:04:23 while Lelisa Desisa ran 2:04:45 in 2013. On Friday there is another runner who aims to continue this unusual debutants\u2019 winning streak started by his fellow-Ethiopians: Atsedu Tsegay.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have chosen Dubai for my debut because I know this is a fast race on a flat course,\u201d said 22 year-old Atsedu Tsegay, who has run the fifth fastest time ever in the half marathon with 58:47. \u201cIt is my aim to run 2:05 in my first marathon and of course I would like to continue the debutants\u2019 win streak.\u201d Atsedu prepared in Addis Abeba for his marathon debut and ran distances of up to 40 k in training. \u201cI will definitely follow the first group, no matter what pace they will run.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jonathan Maiyo is well aware of the debutants\u2019 threat, and especially of Atsedu Tsegay . \u201cMarkos Geneti is a strong rival but there are plenty of others, especially the debutants\u201d, said Maiyo, who ran his personal best of 2:04:56 when placing fourth in Dubai in 2012. In that race he just missed out on a podium finish behind Geneti (2:04:54). \u201cThis could be a world record race if we all work well together. I know that I can run faster than two years ago,\u201d Maiyo added.<\/p>\n

Six runners feature personal bests of sub 2:07 and another nine have run under 2:10.\u00a0 While pacemakers will be instructed to run a pace inside the course record of 2:04:23, Ahmed Al Kamali hopes for more: \u201cI dream of a world record,\u201d said the President of the United Arab Emirates\u2019 Athletics Federation, who is also a Council Member of the IAAF.<\/p>\n

The women\u2019s elite entry looks as strong as two years ago, when Aselefech Mergia (Ethiopia) set the course record with a time of 2:19:31. Three women broke 2:20 in that race, which remains a unique result in marathon running. A time of 2:21:30 \u2013 fast enough to win all but four marathons in the world last year \u2013 was only good enough for sixth place in this remarkable race two years ago.<\/p>\n

Six women who have been faster than 2:24 will compete in the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon. Among them are Ethiopian stars Meselech Melkamu (2:21:01) and Meseret Hailu (2:21:09). \u201cWith the quality of our women\u2019s field we are pushing for a course record,\u201d said Peter Connerton.<\/p>\n

\u201cI came to Dubai because I know about the fast course,\u201d said Meselech Melkamu, who had won her debut marathon in Frankfurt in 2012 (2:21:01). After dropping out of the World Championships\u2019 marathon in Moscow last summer she was supposed to return to Frankfurt in October. \u201cBut I got a muscle injury which was really bad, so I could not go. However I was able to train very well for Dubai, I am in good form,\u201d said Melkamu.<\/p>\n

One of Melkamu\u2019s strongest rivals will be Meseret Hailu. The World Half Marathon Champion from 2012 had run marathons in the years before, but it was not until Amsterdam in autumn 2012 that she achieved a major breakthrough: Hailu won the race with a course record of 2:21:09. After dropping out of the World Championships\u2019 marathon in 2013 she will be eager to make amendments for this in Dubai.<\/p>\n

While a sub 2:20 time could be on the cards it looks highly unlikely that the Ethiopian win streak will come to an end on Friday: Ethiopian women have won the past seven editions of the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon.<\/p>\n

image credit: Giancarlo Colombo \/ photorun.net<\/em><\/p>\n

Main contenders<\/p>\n

Men<\/p>\n

Markos Geneti\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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2:04:54
\nJonathan Maiyo\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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2:04:56
\nLaban Korir\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2:06:05
\nGirmay Birhanu\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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2:06:09
\nDeriba Merga\u00a0\u00a0\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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2:06:38
\nMegersa Bacha\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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2:06:56
\nShumi Dechase\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 BAH\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2:07:11
\nNicholas Kemboi\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 QAT\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2:08:01
\nHabtamu Asefa\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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2:08:28
\nDejene Yirdaw\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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2:08:30
\nHaile Haja\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2:08:35
\nDerese Tadese\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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2:08:46
\nAbrha Milaw\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2:09:00
\nSisay Lemma\u00a0\u00a0\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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2:09:02
\nYekeber Bayabel\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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2:09:39
\nAtsedu Tsegay\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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Debut
\nAbera Kuma\u00a0\u00a0\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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Debut<\/p>\n

Women<\/p>\n

Meselech Melkamu\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ETH\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2:21:01
\nMeseret Hailu\u00a0\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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2:21:09
\nFirehiwot Dado\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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2:23:15
\nEhitu Kiros\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2:23:38
\nMula Seboka\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2:23:48
\nAmane Gobena\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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2:23:50
\nBelaynesh Oljira\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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2:25:01
\nSultan Haydar\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 TUR\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2:25:09
\nMisker Mekonnen\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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2:25:45
\nWerknesh Kidane\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ETH\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2:26:15
\nGoitetom Haftu\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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2:26:21
\nSechale Dalasa\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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2:26:27
\nZemzem Ahmed\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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2:27:12
\nWude Ayalew\u00a0\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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 —
\nYebrgual Melese\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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Debut<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The 15th edition of the Dubai Marathon 2014 will feature a men\u2019s race where two sub 2:05 runners return to the premier running event of the region A combination of the biggest pot of prize money and most pancake-flat course among the major marathons means that extraordinary results can be expected in Dubai. The Standard […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2041,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[73,18,1,46],"tags":[94,160,315],"class_list":["post-2040","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dubai","category-featured","category-news","category-pre-event","tag-94","tag-atsedu-tsegay","tag-dubai"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.time-to-run.com\/marathon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2040","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=2040"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.time-to-run.com\/marathon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2040\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.time-to-run.com\/marathon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2041"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.time-to-run.com\/marathon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2040"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.time-to-run.com\/marathon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2040"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.time-to-run.com\/marathon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2040"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}