Ethiopia’s Getaneh Molla and Kenya’s Ruth Chepngetich broke the course records to win the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon on Friday (January 25).

Molla ran the fastest ever debut marathon in history to win the men’s race in a lightning quick time of 2:03:34.

The 25 year-old finished six seconds ahead of compatriot Herpassa Negasa (2:03:40) to ensure the men’s course record was broken in Dubai for a third straight year.

Molla and Negasa are now the sixth and eighth fastest marathoners in history.

As well as a 12:59.58 clocking over 5000m, Molla has previously run strongly over 13.1 miles including 60:34 in Lille and 60:47 at the World Half Marathon Championships in Valencia last year.

Nagasa himself took more than five minutes off his PB to claim the second podium spot, while fellow Ethiopian Asefa Mengstu completed the top three in 2:04:24.

Mengstu was 18 seconds off his 2:04:06 PB from last year’s race where six men memorably finished between 2:04 and 2:04:15.

Guye Adola previously held the honour of the quickest debut after running 2:03:46 at the 2017 Berlin Marathon, while Moses Mosop has also run 2:03:06 on Boston’s point-to-point course, however, the nature of the course is not officially recognised.

The United Arab Emirates city is renowned for fast marathon performances and the top two finishers in the women’s race jump to third and fourth in the world after 2:17:07 and 2:17:41 runs.

Photo: Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon

Chepngetich broke the women’s course record after crossing the finish line 34 seconds ahead of Worknesh Degefa.

The 24 year-old’s winning performance was a four minute PB and comes less than three months after running 2:18:35 to take the victory at the Istanbul Marathon.

Degefa’s 2:17:41 clocking for second is a new Ethiopian record, while compatriot Workenesh Edesa finished third in 2:21:05.

Chepngetich and Degefa have now surpassed Tirunesh Dibaba on the women’s all-time rankings, with only Paula Radcliffe and Mary Keitany running faster marathons.

Men’s top results

1) Getaneh Molla (ETH) 2:03:34
2) Herpassa Negasa (ETH) 2:03:40
3) Asefa Mengstu (ETH) 2:04:24
4) Emmanuel Saina (KEN) 2:05:02
5) Shifera Tamru (ETH) 2:05:18
6) Kelkile Gezahegn (ETH) 2:06:09
7) Adugna Takele (ETH) 2:06:32
8) Birhanu Teshome (ETH) 2:08:20

Women’s top results

1) Ruth Chepngetich (KEN) 2:17:08
2) Worknesh Degefa (ETH) 2:17:41
3) Workenesh Edesa (ETH) 2:21:05
4) Waganesh Mekasha (ETH) 2:22:45
5) Sintayehu Lewetegn (ETH) 2:25:59
6) Rahma Tusa (ETH) 2:26:38
7) Muluhabt Tsega (ETH) 2:27:36
8) Sule Utura (ETH) 2:32:52

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The post Getaneh Molla runs fastest ever marathon debut in Dubai appeared first on Fast Running.

Geremew, 25, clinched victory in a course record 2:04:00, leading a sprint finish down the homestretch with any of six men in contention to win the $200,000 first-place prize.

The top six incredibly all finished between 2:04:00 and 2:04:15, with seven under the 2:05 barrier. Last year’s winner and race favourite Tamirat Tola finished third, with Leul Gebresilase second. Gebresilase, who was running his first marathon, moves to number two on the all-time fastest debuts list with 2:04:02.

The top ten spots in the men’s race were all Ethiopian athletes, with the tenth man the first over the 2:10 mark.

Best Thursday night marathon of the year, yet again. #DubaiMarathon pic.twitter.com/l3UJmr2DEH

— Justin Britton (@Justin_Britton) January 26, 2018

It wasn’t all about the men though, with the women’s marathon equally impressing, with four breaking 2:20. Ethiopia’s Roza Dereje led the charge to the finish line to win in 2:19:17, ahead of her compatriot’s Feyse Tadese in 2:19:30, Yebrgual Melese, and defending champion Worknesh Degefa in 2:19:53.

Dereje time was also a course record in Dubai. Four sub 2:20 finishers is also the most ever in one race, in fact, compared to 2017, only three women ran under the mark in total.

Outside of the $200,000 first place prizes for both men and women, second place took $80,000, with $40,000, $20,000, $13,000, and $12,000 for the remaining top five places.

The post Seven finish under 2:05 as records fall at Dubai Marathon appeared first on Fast Running.