by Alfonz Juck
Tamirat Tola wins 2017 Dubai Marathon
Tola 2:04:11 CR
DUBAI (UAE, Jan 20): Kenenisa Bekele suffered a big disappointment at the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon where he dropped out after the halfway point. Bekele was planning to chase Dennis Kimetto’s world record of 2:02:57 but the Ethiopian fell right at the start after being tripped from behind. While he made up the ground on the leaders, Bekele lost contact again at the 10km checkpoint before dropping out around the 23km (he passed halfway in 62:49) where he was seen holding his calf. Olympic 10,000m bronze medallist Tamirat Tola came through to take a surprise victory in a course record (and PB) and world-lead of 2:04:11 (61:34/62:37) in warm conditions to become the ninth fastest marathon runner of all-time, comfortably ahead of teammates Mule Wasihun (2:06:46) and Sisay Lemma (2:08:04) with Kenya’s Mark Pkorir Lokwanamoi the first non-Ethiopian finisher in fifth (2:08:37). French Timothee Bommier was the best European as 13th in 2:14:50 PB. Debutante Worknesh Degefa won the women’s race in a world-lead 2:22:35 as Ethiopians filled the top nine places. Shure Demise (2:22:57) and Yebrgual Melese (2:23:13) were made up the podium with Finland’s Anne-Mari Hyrylainen (2:32:18) the first non-Ethiopian finisher in tenth. Both winners claimed 200,000 USD.
