Getaneh Molla produced the fastest marathon debut in history to win the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon, while Ruth Chepngetich moved up to third on the women’s world all-time list at the IAAF Gold Label road race that took place yesterday. Kenyan Ruth Chepngetich won the women’s race followed by seven Ethiopians led by Worknesh Degefa.
Getaneh’s winning time of 2:03:34 took 26 seconds off the course record that was set last year and puts him sixth on the world all-time list.
Chepngetich, meanwhile, took 87 seconds off the PB she set in Istanbul just two months ago to win in 2:17:08, an improvement of two minutes and nine seconds on the previous course record. It moves her from eighth to third on the world all-time list behind world record-holder Paula Radcliffe (2:15:25) and Mary Keitany (2:17:01).
With the temperature about 18C, Just Getaneh and fellow Ethiopian Herpasa Negasa were left at 35 kilometers before compatriot Asefa Mengstu rejoined them briefly but lost contact again by 40 kilometers. They stayed together until the final 700 meters when Getaneh began to pull away from Negasa, eventually crossing the line six seconds ahead of his rival in 2:03:34. Herpasa came second followed by Assefa Mengestu thus Ethiopians in command of the podium.
In the women’s race it was all Ethiopians show had it not been for Kenyan Ruth Chepngetich who crossed the finishing line in 2:17:08. The 24-year-old became the first Kenyan woman since 2006 to win in Dubai. 2017 Dubai winner Worknesh Degefa crossed the line second with Workenesh Edesa behind to third followed by all Ethiopian contingency up to eighth.