With a new course and a stellar field of athletes vying for a hefty winner's cheque, the 2014 Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon promises to be one of the most exhilarating days in the UAE's sporting calendar.
Here, Sport360 takes a closer look at the six biggest contenders – three men and three women – that are being widely tipped to triumph in Dubai.
Laban Korir (Kenya)
Born: December 30, 1985, aged 28
Marathon Best: 2:06:05 (2nd, Amsterdam, 2011)
Korir rightly describes his marathon debut as his best achievement. He went to No3 on the all-time charts for debutants when he finished second in Amsterdam in 2011. His had been a natural transition on the road, concentrating on 10k and the half marathon before that explosive debut over the full distance.
He has run two since, experiencing Boston and tough conditions in 2012 to finish sixth in 2:15:29. Five months later he clocked 2:09:52 in Chicago for 11th place.
G. Birhanu Gebru (Ethiopia)
Born: November 22, 1986, aged 27
Marathon Best: 2:06:04 (2nd, Amsterdam, 2013)
Gebru made remarkable progress to finish runner-up in the Amsterdam Marathon in October last year, chopping over six minutes off his PB to claim second place.
His previous experience of the marathon before that revelation in Amsterdam was winning the 2012 Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth, Minnesota with a much more modest time of 2:12:25. Gebru is seemingly on an upward curve he will be one to watch in Dubai.
Markos Geneti (Ethiopia)
Born: May 30, 1984, aged 29
Marathon Best: 2:04:54 (3rd Dubai, 2012)
He played his part in the Ethiopian dominance in the 2012 edition of the Dubai Marathon with a third-place finish. That was over two and a half minutes’ improvement on his best time, set in winning the LA title in 2011.
As a junior he was a track star, winning the World Youth title for 3,000m, a silver medal at the 2002 World Junior Championships at 5,000m and a bronze medal over 3,000m at the 2004 World Indoor Championships in Budapest.
Mamitu Daska (Ethiopia)
Born: October 16, 1983, aged 30
Marathon Best: 2:21:59 (1st, Frankfurt, 2011)
The Dubai champion of 2010 returns and should pose a major threat. She won that title in 2:24:18 but the figures do not do justice to the drama.
Daska had to dig deep to beat fellow Ethiopian Aberu Shewaye in the home straight. Once across the line, she lay down for several minutes before summoning up the energy to rise.
The year following her Dubai triumph was memorable, winning the Houston title in January, 2011 and then setting her PB of 2:21:59 to win in Frankfurt.
Meselech Melkamu (Ethiopia)
Born: April 27, 1985, aged 28
Marathon Best: 2:21:01 (1st Frankfurt, 2012)
Melkamu had a superb marathon debut when she won Frankfurt in 2012 with a course record of 2:21:01. This was the third fastest marathon debut ever by a woman.
But on the other hand such a performance wasn’t such a surprise since Melkamu has excelled at long distances on the track. She is the second fastest ever at 10,000m with 29:53.80 and African record holder.
After Frankfurt she ran the London Marathon in 2013, where she finished fifth in 2:25:46.
M. Hailu Debele (Ethiopia)
Born: September 12, 1990, aged 23
Marathon Best: 2:21:09 (1st, Amsterdam, 2012)
She enjoyed the finest two weeks of her career in October 2012 – a fortnight after becoming a surprise winner of the World Half Marathon title in Kavarna in Bulgaria, Meseret won the Amsterdam Marathon, breaking the course record by almost a minute.
Her time of 2:21:09 was also a personal best by almost six minutes. She took to road racing when in her teens and has fared well in the UAE in the past, breaking the Ethiopian record for the half marathon at Ras Al Khaimah in 2013.
And keep an eye out for these six major contenders…
Jonathan Maiyo (Kenya)
Born: May 5, 1988, aged 25
Marathon Best: 2:04:56 (4th Dubai, 2012)
Maiyo has fond memories of Dubai. In 2012, it was the venue for his arrival as a world class performer in the marathon. He may have been edged out to fourth by a trio of Ethiopians, but he slashed a eight full minutes off his PB.
Deriba Merga (Ethiopia)
Born: Oct 26, 1982, aged 33
Marathon Best: 2:06:38 (6th London, 2008)
Merga’s greatest achievement and biggest disappointment came in the same race as he narrowly missed out on bronze in the Beijing Olympic Marathon. But he is seasoned, quality performer, who cannot be ruled out.
Abreham Cherkos (Ethiopia)
Born: Sept 23, 1989, aged 24
Marathon Best: 2:06:13
A track star as a junior, Cherkos ran sub-13 minutes for the 5,000m when just 16. A raft of junior medals ensued, before the marathon beckoned. Fourth in Amsterdam in 2010 on debut (2:07:29) he was then fifth in Boston (2:06:13) the following year.
Firehiwot Dado (Ethiopia)
Born: Jan 9, 1984, aged 28
Marathon Best: 2:23:15 (1st New York, 2011)
She fulfilled many a marathon runner’s dream when she won New York in 2011. The Ethiopian ran 2:23:15 to improve her personal best by almost one minute. Her form has been poor since but is targeting a revival in Dubai.
Ehitu Kiros (Ethiopia)
Born: Jan 13, 1988, aged 26
Marathon Best: 2:23:39 (2nd Dubai, 2013)
Last year’s runner-up will be keen to go one better. In 2013 she was also third in Prague, sixth in Chicago and then won in Honolulu on December 8. She has pedigree here but has probably been the busiest of the elite competitors.
Mulu Seboka (Ethiopia)
Born: Sept 25, 1984, aged 29
Marathon Best: 2:23:43 (2nd Daegu/KOR, 2013) Dubai 2012 marked a major advance as she improved to 2:25:45, finishing 11th. In the last 12 months she improved again, chopping off almost two minutes from her personal best, finishing second in Daegu with 2:23:43.
