Epic women's battle expected in Samsung Dubai marathon
While Wilson Kibet will have his sights set on a third successive men's title, a number of international female athletes will be aiming for their first Dubai gold when the Samsung Dubai Marathon hits the road on Friday (Jan 11).
With event organizers expecting a combined record turnout of more than 5,000 athletes in the Marathon, the 10km and the 3km Fun Run, interest is huge in an event being held under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Minister of Defence and Crown Prince of Dubai.
And it may not just be record numbers at the starting line. With impressive fields lined up in both the men's and ladies' divisions for the 42.195Km main race of the day, Dubai could also be about to see some record-breaking performances.
Favourites in the women's category are runners of the calibre of Irena Bogacheva of Kazakhstan, Russians Olga Kovpotina and Albina Ivanova, and young Ethiopian hopefuls Ababe Tola and Asnakech Eticha. Away from the Marathon all eyes will surely be on Kenyan legend Joyce Chepchumba ? twice winner of the London Marathon and Olympic Bronze Medallist ? who will compete in the 10Km run.
A late bloomer, Irena Bogacheva ran the race of her life at the 2000 Boston Marathon, out leaning three-time champion Fatuma Roba of Ethiopia at the line for second place and a time of 2:26. She then finished 14th at the Sydney Olympics in 2:29:55 and sixth in Honolulu in December 2000. In London last year she had to settle for 14th in a time of 2:32:28 after wearing new shoes and never feeling comfortable throughout.
Marathon 2
Kovpotina and Ivanova will also be among the front-runners. Less than two years ago, Kovpotina was part of a remarkable "double act" when she won the Ocean State Marathon -- her husband Igor Osmak took gold in the men"s division at the same event -- while Ivanova is in good form having battled against heavy rain and strong winds to come home second in the Athens Marathon in November.
Among the younger athletes looking to make the headlines is the Ethiopian pairing of Tola and Eticha. Winner of the 2000 Amsterdam Marathon in 2:29:58, 25-year-old Tola is certainly one to watch as she also took fourth in Rotterdam and won the 1999 San Sebastian Marathon in Spain in 2:36:02. Her competitive debut came with a 2:35:10 second place at the 1998 Lausanne Marathon.
Her fellow Ethiopian Asnakech Eticha is certainly no stranger to the world of running. She has already shown her class by winning the 2001 Ethiopian National Championships in Addis Ababa, while her brother Tesfaye Eticha is competing in the men's event. He was pipped to the gold last year by just one second in a desperate race for the line with eventual winner Wilson Kibet..
"Asnakech Eticha is certainly a young lady to look out for," said Ian Ladbroke, agent for Kenyan runner John Mutai. "Her winning time of 2:37 at the National Championships is very misleading. The runners competed at an altitude of 8,000ft and a similar performance in normal conditions would surely have seen her record a sub 2:30."
With just two days remaining, time is running out for athletes wishing to rub shoulders with the best of international distance running. "We fully expect to have more competitors taking part than ever before," said D.K. Byeon, Managing Director of Samsung Electronics, the event"s title sponsors. "But we still have places for other runners and we will welcome anyone who wants to take part, particularly in the 3km Fun Run."