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 23 RD JANUARY 2015 42KM MARATHON • 10KM ROAD RACE • 4KM FUN RUN MEDIA GUIDE 3 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 4 TITLE SPONSOR PRIZE MONEY SPONSORS OFFICIAL SUPPLIERS STANDARD CHARTERED DUBAI MARATHON 2015 5 CONTENTS 2014 Race Review 6 MEDIA INFORMATION Introduction 13 The Media Team 13 The Media Centre 14 Press Conferences 14 THE DUBAI MARATHON COURSE Start Details 17 Course Details 17 Times and Drinks Stations 17 Course Maps 18 THE 2015 RACES Start Times 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 2014 56 World Record Pace Guide 60 Weather 62 THE DUBAI MARATHON STRUCTURE Event Officials 67 THE MASS EVENT Total number of participants year-by-year 71 www.dubaimarathon.org 6 STANDARD CHARTERED DUBAI MARATHON 2015 7 ETHIOPIAN CLEAN SWEEP AS MEKONNEN SETS WORLD JUNIOR RECORD For the third year in a row, a marathon ‘new “The pace was changing a lot during the boy’ won the Standard Chartered Dubai first half and I think with an even pace I could Marathon as teenager Tsegaye Mekonnen have run faster,” said Tsegaye Mekonnen. led an Ethiopian whitewash in the emirate in “But of course I’m very happy and proud of January 2014. my performance. I had no idea about the The 18 year-old caused a major surprise, World Junior Record so this is a bonus for running 2h:04m:32s in his first marathon, to me.” break the unofficial World Junior Record by 95 The men’s race began very fast with split seconds and record the second fastest time times that were well inside the then world ever seen in the Standard Chartered Dubai record of 2:03:23 established by Kenya’s Marathon. Wilson Kipsang in Berlin in 2013. A group of The second and third placed athletes also around 20 athletes passed 10km in 29:14 achieved world-class times of sub 2:06 with and then reached the half way mark in 61:37. fellow Ethiopians Markos Geneti and Girmay However at that stage the pace had Birhanu finishing in 2:05:13 and 2:05:49 already dropped to around 2m:58s to 3m respectively. per kilometre. This was not fast enough for As expected the women’s race was also Kipsang’s world record which was soon out of dominated by Ethiopians, who took the first reach. nine places. Surprisingly Mula Seboka beat However, with a new unofficial World favourites Meselech Melkamu and Meseret Junior Record (the IAAF does not not officially Hailu to romp home in 2:25:01 and collect the list junior records for the marathon) and the US$200,000 first prize. Melkamu followed in second best time for the event in fifteen years, second place with 2:25:23, Firehiwot Dado the men’s race once again underlined the was third in 2:25:53 with Hailu fourth in pace of what is one of the fastest courses in 2:26:20. world marathon running. www.dubaimarathon.org 8 STANDARD CHARTERED DUBAI MARATHON 2015 9 For Seboka, who finished 11th in Dubai Held under the patronage of HH Sheikh two years earlier and subsequently outside Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al of the money, the richest prize available in Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and international marathon running will make Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council and a huge difference. “I will partly use this to supported by the Dubai Sports Council, support my parents and some poor people adidas, Dubai Eye 103.8FM, Masafi, Dubai back home,” said the diminutive Ethiopian. “I Holding, Dubai Police, the RTA and Dubai will have to speak to my husband about what Municipality, the Standard Chartered Dubai we do with the other part of it.” Marathon saw the trophies presented by a In the 10km Road Race, victory in the host of dignitaries. men’s division went to John Ndugu of Kenya Leading the presentation party was HH (28m:56s) with Feysa Dejene Amosha of Sheikh Majed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Ethiopia in second (28m:58s) and Ihya Al Maktoum, Chairman Dubai Culture & Ben-Youssef of Morocco in third (29m:32s). Art Authority with HE Mattar Al Tayer, Vice The women’s race saw victory go to Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council, Gladys Jemaiyo (33m:40s) of Kenya as her Ahmed Al Kamali, President of the UAE compatriot Sheila Jeptoo Rono (35m:03s) Athletics Federation and IAAF Council and Selam Wale Mihret of Ethiopia (35m:44s) Member, and Jonathan Morris, Standard claimed second and third respectively. Chartered Bank CEO UAE. www.dubaimarathon.org 10 STANDARD CHARTERED DUBAI MARATHON 2014 RESULTS RESULTS RESULTS MEN’S MARATHON WOMEN’S MARATHON 1 Mekonnen Asefa, Tsegaye (ETH) 2:04:32 1 Seboka Seyfu, Mula (ETH) 2:25:01 2 Geneti Guteta, Markos (ETH) 2:05:13 2 Melkamu Haileyesus, Meselech (ETH) 2:25:23 3 Birhanu Gebru, Girmay (ETH) 2:05:49 3 Dado Tufa, Firehiwot (ETH) 2:25:53 4 Tola Adera, Tamirat (ETH) 2:06:17 4 Hailu Debele, Meseret (ETH) 2:26:20 5 Bekele Molaign, Azmeraw (ETH) 2:07:12 5 Moges Cherenet, Betelhem (ETH) 2:26:42 6 Shumi Dechase (ETH) 2:07:13 6 Amane Gobena (ETH) 2:27:05 7 Abrha Milaw (ETH) 2:07:46 7 Fantu Eticha (ETH) 2:27.36 8 Abera Kassw (ETH) 2:08:18 8 Goitetom Haftu (ETH) 2:27:44 9 Abdeimounaim Harroufi (USA) 2:09:11 9 Sechale Dalasa (ETH) 2:27:47 10 Belachew Alemay (ETH) 2:09:50 10 Sultan Haydar (TUR) 2:27:54 RESULTS RESULTS MEN’S 10KM WOMEN’S 10KM 1 John Ndugu (KEN) 28.56 1 Gladys Jimaiyo (KEN) 33.41 2 Feysa Dejene (ETH) 28.58 2 Sheila Jeptoo (KEN) 35.03 3 Ihya Ben-Youssef (MOR) 29.32 3 Wale Mihret (ETH) 35.44 STANDARD CHARTERED DUBAI MARATHON 2015 11 INFORMATION MEDIA MEDIA INFORMATION www.dubaimarathon.org 12 12 MEDIA INFORMATION MEDIA INFORMATION n Introduction n The Press Team n The Press Centre n Press Conferences STANDARD CHARTERED DUBAI MARATHON 2015 13 MEDIA INFORMATION INTRODUCTION Welcome to the 2015 Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon Media Guide. We hope you find everything you need to help you cover this year’s event in these pages. Please do not hesitate to ask one of the media team if you require anything else. 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 2015 media team is managed by Alan Ewens. The team will be based in the Official Media Centre on Umm Suqeim Road from Wednesday 21st January to Friday 23rd January inclusive. Alan Ewens Media Director [email protected] Andy Edwards International News Relations [email protected] Joerg Wenig International News Relations [email protected] Karen Rowlands Media Assistant [email protected] Samantha Lloyd International Radio & TV News [email protected] Jon Walley Official Event Photographer [email protected] Giancarlo Colombo Official Event Photographer [email protected] www.dubaimarathon.org 14 MEDIA INFORMATION THE MEDIA CENTRE RACE DAY FACILITIES The Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon On race day the main Media Centre will be open operates a temporary Media Centre during from 5.00am providing a comfortable indoor the days leading up to the event and on race location so journalists can cover all aspects of day. the marathon opposite the start and finish line. Refreshments will be served throughout the day. ADDRESS Please note: Entry to the main race day Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon Media Media Centre on Friday 23 January will be Centre, Umm Suqeim Road, Dubai. by accreditation only. This must be collected during race week from the Media Centre (see OPENING HOURS opening hours). No accreditation will be Wednesday 21 January & Thursday 22 provided on race day. January - 9.00am-6.00pm. PRESS CONFERENCE SCHEDULE RACE DAY January 21, 2015 Friday 23 January - 5.00am onwards. Sheraton Dubai Creek Hotel & Towers - 11.00am CONTACTS January 23, 2013 Alan Ewens +97150 4514188 The post-race medalists press conferences Karen Rowlands +97150 6451439 will be held in the event’s Media Centre with a time to be confirmed on the day shortly after GENERAL FACILITIES the race. Members of the media should come to the Media Centre during opening hours (listed More information can be found on the website above) to pick up their accreditation – – www.dubaimarathon.org. Throughout race accreditation will also be available for collection week, the website will carry the latest news, at the pre-event press conference being held at radio interviews and coverage of the press conference. the Sheraton Dubai Creek Hotel & Towers on January 21 at 11am. Latest race information Photographers, journalists and editors can will also be available from the Media Centre. view, download and publish free-to-use Food & Beverage will be provided as well as images of the 2010-2014 marathons from full wireless access. www.dubaimarathon.org STANDARD CHARTERED DUBAI MARATHON 2015 15 THE DUBAI MARATHON COURSE COURSE MARATHON THE DUBAI www.dubaimarathon.org 16 THE DUBAI MARATHON COURSE n Start Details n Course Details THE DUBAI n Times and Drinks Stations MARATHON COURSE MARATHON n Course Maps 17 THE DUBAI MARATHON COURSE START DETAILS MARATHON START TIME KEEPING The Marathon will start on the Umm Suqeim The Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon uses Road past the Police Academy near the advance MIKATAGS technology to time all Madinat Jumeirah Jumeirah overlooking the runners in the race, including the wheelchair iconic Burj Al Arab.