UNDER THE PATRONAGE OF HH SHEIKH HAMDAN BIN MOHAMMED BIN RASHID AL MAKTOUM CROWN PRINCE OF DUBAI, CHAIRMAN OF DUBAI SPORTS COUNCIL STANDARD CHARTERED DUBAIMARATHON FRIDAY 22ND JANUARY 2016 42KM MARATHON • 10KM ROAD RACE • 4KM FUN RUN MEDIA GUIDE Under the Patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Crown Prince of Dubai, Chairman of Dubai Sports Council www.dubaimarathon.org 3 TITLE SPONSOR CONTENTS 2015 Race Review 6 PRIZE MONEY MEDIA INFORMATION Introduction 13 The Media Team 13 The Media Centre 14 Press Conferences 14 THE DUBAI MARATHON COURSE Start Details 17 SPONSORS Course Details 17 Times and Drinks Stations 17 Course Maps 18 THE 2016 RACES The 2016 Races 25 ELITE RUNNERS Elite Men: Entries 26 Elite Men: Biographies 27 Elite Women: Entries 32 Elite Women: Biographies 33 Awards and Bonuses 38 DUBAI MARATHON STATISTICS Champions and Course Records 41 Past Results 42 Margins of Victory 50 WORLD MARATHON STATISTICS World and Continental Records 51 World All-Time Top 50 52 World’s Best in 2015 56 World Record Pace Guide 60 OFFICIAL SUPPLIERS Weather 62 THE DUBAI MARATHON STRUCTURE Event Officials 67 THE MASS EVENT Total number of participants year-by-year 71 4 STANDARD CHARTERED DUBAI MARATHON 2016 www.dubaimarathon.org 5 ETHIOPIANS RULE AT STANDARD CHARTERED DUBAI MARATHON 2015 It was yet another day of dominance Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon. for Ethiopian athletes at the Standard The Ethiopian, who had taken time off Chartered Dubai Marathon as little competition to have a baby, returned to the known Lemi Berhanu Hayle and the marathon for the first time since the summer sublime Aselefech Mergia swept the of 2012, winning in 2:20:02. In a duel right board in the world’s richest marathon. to the line, reigning World Half Marathon Just 20 years old, Berhanu left some of Champion Gladys Cherono was beaten the biggest names in long distance running by just one second on a superb marathon trailing and in warm weather conditions debut, while fellow Kenyan Lucy Kabuu was clocked a world leading time of 2:05:28 to third in 2:20:21. win by 24 seconds from 2013 Dubai and Held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Boston champion Lelisa Desisa. Deribe Robi Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al completed an all Ethiopian podium with a Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and time of 2:06:06. Ethiopia’s superstar Kenenisa Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council, a Bekele dropped out beyond the 30km mark, record field of more than 25,000 runners appearing to suffer from a leg injury. entered the marathon, the 10km Road Race In the women’s field, Aselefech Mergia and the 4km Fun Run on a day that saw the celebrated her 30th birthday in style event beamed to millions of homes across with a perfect comeback, winning the the world. most thrilling finish in the history of the “I never would have thought that I could 6 STANDARD CHARTERED DUBAI MARATHON 2016 www.dubaimarathon.org 7 win this race,” said Berhanu, who collected ran in the lead group up to the 28km point his trophy from HH Sheikh Mansour bin but dropped back quickly and finally stopped Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and shortly after 30km. Standard Chartered UAE CEO Mohsin “Kenenisa suffered hamstring problems in Nathani. “It was my dream to do this in Dubai both legs,” said his coach Renato Canova. one day, but I didn’t expect it to happen “But I think the real problem is in his right this year. With around one kilometre to go, I Achilles tendon. At the end of November he sensed that I could win.” had to reduce training because of this. He has now improved by more than “A world record was never a realistic five minutes and is unbeaten in two races. target, but a 2:04 time seemed realistic. “If my federation selects me then I would When I saw him running today he did not minute at 20km, which suggested a 2:18 second (29m:58s) and Morocco’s Ihya Ben finishing time. Youssef in third (30m:18s). Ruqiya Alkhaja But she paid the price in the end and of the UAE took the women’s 10km title was caught by the pack at 34km by a group in 30m:47s, with Eritrea’s Rahma Abas comprising Aselefech, returning to racing second (37m:46s) and Latifa Essarokh of after maternity and in search of a third Dubai title, fellow Ethiopians Aberu Kebede and France in third (37m:47s). Shure Demissie along with the Kenyan duo of The biggest event of its kind in the Lucy Kabuu and 2014 World Half Marathon Middle East, the Standard Chartered Dubai champion Gladys Cherono, who was making Marathon drew a mixture of spectators, her debut at the distance. including Olympians Lord Sebastian Coe Cherono has dangerous finishing speed and Haile Gebrselassie, HE Mattar Al over the shorter distances but it was Mergia Tayer (Vice Chairman of the Dubai Sports who won a contest which ran right to the really like to run the marathon in the World look relaxed, he looked tight, which is finish line, completing a hat-trick of Dubai Council), HE Saeed Hareb (General Championships in the summer,” added why he developed hamstring problems. titles by just one second. Secretary of the Dubai Sports Council) and Berhanu, who said he had no idea what to do But I remain very confident for his future “I told myself after having my daughter that Ahmad Al Kamali (UAE Athletics Federation with the prize money of US$200,000. “I never marathon carrier - I think he will do really I could win a marathon again,” she said. “We President and IAAF Member). thought about the money. I really don’t know well.” used the prize money from my first two wins In addition to Standard Chartered as what I will do with it.” The strongest women’s field ever in Dubai in Dubai [2011 and 2012] to begin building title sponsor, the Standard Chartered Dubai Meanwhile Dubai proved a tough marathon produced its own share of drama. Firstly the a hotel back home, now we’ll be able to Marathon is supported by the Dubai Sports experience for Kenenisa Bekele. After winning little known Tigist Tufa, Ethiopian-born and complete the job.” his debut in Paris last April with 2:05:04 and running for Bahrain, broke clear shortly after In the 10km men’s event, victory went Council, adidas, Dubai Eye 103.8FM, Sport finishing fourth in Chicago in 2:05:51, Dubai the start and maintained a daunting pace, to Fikad Kibreab of Eritrea (29m:56s) with 360, Masafi, Dubai Holding, Dubai Police and brought hope but ultimately frustration. Bekele leading a talented chasing group by a solid Habtom Welderufael - also from Eritrea - in the RTA. 8 STANDARD CHARTERED DUBAI MARATHON 20152016 www.dubaimarathon.org 9 INFORMATION MEDIA MEDIA INFORMATION RESULTS - STANDARD CHARTERED DUBAI MARATHON 2015 RESULTS RESULTS MEN’S MARATHON WOMEN’S MARATHON 1 Lemi Berhanu (ETH) 02:05:28 1 Aselefech Mergia (ETH) 02:20:02 2 Lelisa Desisa (ETH) 02:05:52 2 Gladys Cherono (KEN) 02:20:03 3 Deribe Robi (ETH) 02:06:06 3 Lucy Kabuu (KEN) 02:20:21 4 Feysa Lelisa (ETH) 02:06:35 4 Shuhre Demissie (ETH) 02:20:59 5 Sisay Lemma (ETH) 02:07:06 5 Aberu Kebede (ETH) 02:21:17 6 Bazu Worku (ETH) 02:07:09 6 Mulu Seboka (ETH) 02:21:56 7 Chele Dechase (ETH) 02:08:11 7 Tadelech Bekel (ETH) 02:22:51 8 Girmay Birhanu (ETH) 02:08:56 8 Aliaksandra Duliba (BLR) 02:23:06 9 Adugna Takele (ETH) 02:09:39 9 Abebech Afework (ETH) 02:23:33 10 Andualem Belay (ETH) 02:09:59 10 Ashete Bekere (ETH) 02:23:43 RESULTS RESULTS MEN’S 10KM WOMEN’S 10KM 1 Fikad Kibreab (ERI) 00:29:56 1 Ruqiya Alkhaja (UAE) 00:30:47 2 Habtom Welderufael (ERI) 00:29:58 2 Rahma Abas (ERI) 00:37:46 3 Ihya Ben Youssef (MOR) 00:30:18 3 Latifa Essarokh (FRA) 00:37:47 10 STANDARD CHARTERED DUBAI MARATHON 2016 MEDIA INFORMATION MEDIA INTRODUCTION INFORMATION INFORMATION MEDIA Welcome to the 2016 Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon Media Guide. We hope you n Introduction find everything you need to help you cover this year’s event in these pages. Please do n The Media Team not hesitate to ask one of the media team if n The Media Centre you require anything else. n Press Conferences The following sections provide information (up to date at the time of printing) about the Dubai Marathon course, its history, this year’s races and leading entrants, marathon statistics, the mass race and the organisation. THE MEDIA TEAM The 2016 media team is managed by Alan Ewens. The team will be based in the Official Media Centre on Umm Suqeim Road from Wednesday 20th January to Friday 22nd January inclusive. Alan Ewens Media Director [email protected] Karen Rowlands Media Assistant [email protected] Samantha Lloyd International Radio & TV News [email protected] Rupert Bell International Radio & TV News [email protected] Jon Walley Official Event Photographer [email protected] Giancarlo Colombo Official Event Photographer [email protected] www.dubaimarathon.org 13 MEDIA INFORMATION THE MEDIA CENTRE RACE DAY FACILITIES The Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon On race day the main Media Centre will be open THE DUBAI operates a temporary Media Centre during from 4.30am providing a comfortable indoor the days leading up to the event and on location so journalists can cover all aspects of race day.