On Friday, Haile Gebrselassie failed in his attempt to break his own world record for the marathon despite perfect weather conditions on the flattest course in the world. The Ethiopian missed out on the biggest prize money in the history of distance running when he overshot his mark of 2:04:26 by just 27 seconds. The organizers of the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon had offered, with the help of the investment company Dubai Holdings, a bonus of $1 million for a world record in addition to the first-place prize of $250,000. Although Gebrselassie’s time of 2:04:53 missed the mark he set last September in Berlin, it’s still the second fastest marathon in history. The women’s race in the United Arab Emirates was won by Gebrselassie’s compatriot Berhane Adere in the high-class time of 2:22:42. Including races at 10K and 4K, almost 15,000 runners entered the race in Dubai.
In addition to now owning the two fastest marathon times in history, Gebrselassie could also console himself with the biggest payday in marathon history. “I’m sorry I couldn’t meet the high expectations people had. But it’s not so simple as many people think to break a world record,” said Gebrselassie, who will now start his preparation for the Olympic Marathon in Beijing. Following that he may well run the New York Marathon.
Gebrselassie ran out of gas over the last 10 kilometers following an incredible early pace on a pancake-flat course in ideal weather conditions (52 degrees at the start and no wind). Pacemakers took him through 10K in a superfast time of 28:39 and halfway in 61:27; both times would win most outright races at those distances! But the pacemakers had gone out too fast. And the one who made the biggest mistake came from the same group as Haile’s manager Jos Hermens, Jackson Koech of Kenya, who set off far too fast at the start. “Perhaps he was in good form,” joked Haile at the press conference later, though initially he was clearly disappointed at missing the record.
Paying the price ultimately for going out too fast, Gebrselassie out on his own grew tired and the world record went out of reach. “I have to hold back more in the future,” said the 34-year-old, who still finished well ahead of the Kenyans Isaac Macharia (2:07:16) and Sammy Korir (2:08:01). “I could see just before the last pacemaker, Abel Kirui, dropped out at 30K that Haile was getting tired,” said Hermens. The Dutchman had, like Gebrselassie, failed to take the opportunity to rein in the pace in the early stages. “The conditions were just incredible. I thought perhaps this could turn out to be a very special day, and we might be on for something with such a fast pace,” Hermens explained, before adding, “Haile could have slowed the pace down at any time. After all, he’s the boss out there in the race.”
At 30K, Gebrselassie was timed in 1:28:01, 53 seconds faster than the corresponding split in Berlin in September. But from then on he lost momentum and the advantage over his splits in Berlin melted as the temperatures rose in the Dubai sun. At 40K the million-dollar dream was over. Gebrselassie went through in 1:58:20, 13 seconds slower than in Berlin.
“The pace at the start was too fast. That’s why I decided to drop back and run at my own tempo in the second group,” said Korir. The Kenyan, whose best of 2:04:56 makes him the third fastest ever, was happy with third place after a series of injury problems.
In the women’s race, the world cross country and half marathon champion Lornah Kiplagat (Netherlands) dropped out shortly after halfway with calf problems. That left the race open for Adere, who won the Chicago Marathon in October. She also received prize money of $250,000 for the win and course record of 2:22:42. Second and third places went to her compatriots Bezunesh Bekele (2:23:09) and Askale Tafa (2:23:23).
With Friday’s performances, the Dubai Marathon established itself as one of the fastest races in the world. And it is very conceivable that in the not too distant future, the world record will be broken in the United Arab Emirates. “Today was the biggest step forward in the history of the race,” said the Irish race director Peter Connerton.
Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon Results:
Men:
1 Gebrselassie, Haile ETH 2:04:53
2 Macharia, Isaac KEN 2:07:16
3 Korir, Sammy KEN 2:08:01
4 Shentema, Gudisa ETH 2:09:27
5 Tesfaye, Tola ETH 2:09:38
6 Kipkoech, Raymond KEN 2:09:39
7 Chisma, Deressa ETH 2:10:16
8 Fikadu, Asnake ETH 2:11:04
9 Gashaw, Melese ETH 2:12:03
10 Rotich, William Todo KEN 2:12:20
Women:
1 Adere, Birhane ETH 2:22:42
2 Bezunesh, Bekele ETH 2:23:09
3 Magarsa, Askale Tafa ETH 2:23:23
4 Cheruiyot, Rose KEN 2:25:48
5 Chelengat, Alice KEN 2:27:29
6 Roba, Asha Gigi ETH 2:28:24
7 Gemechu, Shitaye ETH 2:30:20
8 Tola, Roba Guta ETH 2:33:44
9 Teka, Kidst ETH 2:35:58
10 Kimani, Lucia KEN 2:37:37
Radcliffe, Other Stars Added to London Marathon
Paula Radcliffe has decided to run another marathon before making her second attempt at Olympic gold in Beijing this summer. The English star will run the London Marathon, which she won in 2002, 2003 and 2005, on April 13. Consequently, the marathon world record holder and 2005 world champion will not participate in the world cross country championship in Edinburgh on March 30.
Radcliffe hopes to join the Norwegian Ingrid Kristiansen as the only four-time winner of the women’s race at London. “I love to run in front of a home crowd,” said Radcliffe. “And I know a fourth win would be just the right motivation for the Olympic Games. There is always a top field in London.” Among Radcliffe’s rivals in London will be Gete Wami (Ethiopia), who she outsprinted to win the New York City Marathon in November in her first marathon since giving birth early in 2007. At that time, however, Wami was recovering from having won the Berlin Marathon only five weeks earlier. At London, she will likely be much fresher and stronger. Another participant is the German top runner Irina Mikitenko.
On the men’s side, U.S. champion Ryan Hall and Fukuoka champion Sammy Wanjiru (Kenya) have been added to the field. As with Radcliffe, both will use London to test themselves against the best in the world before Beijing.
Meanwhile, following his near world record in Dubai on Friday, Haile Gebrselassie has expressed reservations about contesting this year’s Olympic Marathon, because of concerns about the pollution. Gebrselassie dropped out of London last spring with breathing problems induced by heavy pollen, and says that he’s reluctant to further damage his lungs if the pollution in Beijing is as bad as expected.
Cross Country Resumes in Kenya
For the first time since the disputed elections in Kenya late last year, a cross country competition took place. According to the International Athletics Federation, local cross country championships started in Nyahurugu last weekend. The village is located northwest of Nairobi, not far from the training centers of Iten and Eldoret, which have been among the centers of unrest. Usually, there are high-level cross country races held weekly starting in December, and culminating in the national championships in February.
While other scheduled events still had to be canceled, there were no incidents in Nyahurugu. KIMbia’s Charles Munyeki won over 12K in 36:43. Milicent Gathoni won the women’s 8K in 27:48.
