Denis Ndiso wins in Mumbai last weekend. © www.photorun.net
Though the race contains the usual field of world-class athletes, the Mumbai Marathon in India is primarily a race for charity. Taking shorter distance races into account, more than 20,000 runners took part in the marathon. According to the race organizers, over a million Euro was collected by those running for charity—an astonishing amount for a race in India.
The race is also incredibly scenic. It starts and ends in front of a beautiful Victorian-era building, the Chhatrapati Shivali railway station—a World Heritage site. Later, around the 6-kilometer mark, runners get splendid views of the sea in an area known as the “Queens Necklace.”
Braving sweltering conditions, 26-year-old Kenyan Denis Ndiso and 20-year-old Ethiopian Bizunesh Urgesa achieved the greatest victories of their careers by winning the Mumbai Marathon titles. Despite difficult weather conditions both champions set personal bests: Ndiso clocked 2:12:34 and Urgesa ran 2:31:09 at the IAAF ‘Gold Label’ race.
Denis Ndiso made the decisive break at around 35K, leaving his rivals behind for a commanding win. So far in his career, the Kenyan has won various half marathons with a best time of 60:33 minutes. His victory in Mumbai was his first win in the marathon. Last autumn, he finished fourth in the Eurasia Marathon in Istanbul, improving his best to 2:13:51. In Mumbai, he ran over a minute faster. Siraj Amda Bene (Ethiopia/2:13:58) and Samson Limareng (Kenya/2:14:24) finished second and third respectively.
Two marathons, two wins—that is the record of the 20-year-old Bizunesh Urgesa. The Ethiopian made her debut in October 2009, winning the Eurasia Marathon in 2:32:45 and has now improved to 2:31:09. As with Denis Ndiso, she would surely have run considerably faster if the weather had not been so warm. In contrast to the men’s race, the women’s event was only decided in the last few meters. Urgesa narrowly won a sprint to the line from her compatriot Haile Kebebush (2:31:11). Ethiopia made a clean sweep with Azalech Masresha finishing third in 2:32:12.
Will the World Record Fall in Dubai?
Despite the torrential downpours, Haile Gebrselassie triumphed last year in Dubai. © Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon
For the third year in a row, Haile Gebrselassie will be attacking his own world record on the flat course of the Dubai Marathon this Friday. So far in Dubai, he has run 2:04:53 (2008) and 2:05:29 (2009). Two years ago, the Ethiopian went out too fast and paid the penalty at the end of the race. Having improved the world record to 2:03:59 hours in Berlin in 2008, he was foiled by a torrential downpour in the second half of the race in Dubai.
“We are delighted to welcome Haile Gebrselassie back—perhaps this time he’ll break the world record at the third attempt,” said Dubai’s race director Peter Connerton. Among Gebrselassie’s rivals in Dubai will be his compatriot Tesfaye Tola (Personal Best: 2:06:57) and the Kenyan pair of Sammy Korir (2:04:56) and Joshua Chelanga (2:07:05).
A more open race is in store for the women’s event. The champions of the past three years are on the start list: Bezunesh Bekele (Personal Best: 2:23:09) won in 2009, Berhane Adere (2:20:42) was the victor in 2008 and Askale Magarsa (2:21:31) was champion three years ago.
