It was a Kenyan clean sweep in the Dubai Marathon’s 10k race as John Ndugu and Gladys Jemaiyo took the mens’ and womens’ gold, respectively.
Ndugu was pushed to the limit with Ethiopian Feysa Dejene Amosha constantly breathing down his neck. The Kenyan managed to hold off his rival by just two seconds to bring in the top prize thanks to a time of 28 minutes and 56 seconds.
Dr Anouar el Ghouz took third spot for Morocco, sitting a way behind the two leaders, coming home in 29:43.
Jemaiyo won the women’s main category with a time of 33:40, coming in ahead of Selam Wale Mihret of Ethiopia, who took two minutes and four seconds longer.
New Zealand’s Alison Wilson took third place with 38:48.
The Fun Run may have had no official winners – timings weren’t taken, to retain its corinthian spirit – but there were over 8,500 moral winners who made the journey around the short course.
Among the more recognisable faces in the crowd of thousands was former Liverpool and England striker Robbie Fowler who was at the event representing his old club and the title sponsors Standard Chartered.
As well as taking on the course, the former striker challenged locals to a football challenge, showing off the magic left foot that made him the biggest Kop favourite of his generation.
Fowler had spent some time earlier in the day with 'Marathon Man' Trent Morrow who has managed to fit in 161 marathons on five continents, 11 countries and 34 US states in his career.
Despite the Dubai Marathon’s position early in the calendar, Morrow had already managed seven runs before Friday’s effort.
Fowler couldn’t help but show his admiration.
“What he’s done is simply incredible,” said the former striker. “Footballers often struggle to play two games in a week so for Trent to be running his eighth marathon of the year already is very impressive.”
Elsewhere, Justin Levene won the wheelchair marathon with a time of 01:56:38, marginally beating out fellow Brit Rob Smith by just one second to take gold.
