Ethiopian, Moroccan runners dominate
dubai — Runners from Ethiopia and Morocco clinched top honours at the end of the road races held as part of the 5th Nad Al Sheba (NAS) Ramadan Sports Tournament being hosted by NAS Sports Complex and organised by Dubai Sports Council.
Competition was held in seven different categories and runners from made a clean sweep in three categories, namely the 5kms and 10kms men’s open and the 10kms UAE National Professionals, while the Ethiopian runners showed their usual class in cleaning all podium spots in the men’s and women’s 10kms international categories.
However, standing in the way of a total African dominance were locally-based athletes — Megan Dingle claiming the 5kms women’s open while experienced runner from Finland, Anne Mari Hyrylainen successfully defended her 10kms women’s open class crown.
With heat and humidity playing a crucial role the race was flagged off at 10 pm with the front pack making a quick start for the first two kilometres. But as the race progressed, the Kenyan runners fell behind while the Ethiopian trio of Hafte Berhe Kahsay, Bekele Reta Jima and Haile Kindiya Tesfaye made their way to the front. With less than two kilometres remaining, Jima went clear with a quick sprint and then never looked behind as he finished the 10km race in a time of 30.10 minutes, leaving Tesfaye in second while Kahsay finished in third.
“Tonight’s conditions were definitely not the best for road running or any sort of outdoor physical activity,” Jima said.
In the women’s 10kms international it was Ethiopia duplicating the men’s feat as first-time entrant Yeshi Kalayu Chekole paced herself to perfection to finish in a time of 35.19 minutes ahead of Mihret Tefara Adhena (35.26 mins) and Haven Hailu Desse (35.47mins).
Among the Moroccan finishers it was Mubarak Rashid Hassan Al Marashda finishing at the top of the pack in the 10km professional category for UAE Nationals with a time of 33.47 minutes to become the only athlete so far to win this event for the third successive year. Khalifa Al Nuaimi (34.43) finished in second, while former champion Ali Khalifa Hamad Al Wahshi (35.06) was third.
Another runner defending her title successfully was Finland’s Anne Mari Hyrylainen in the 10kms women’s open category in a fast time of 37.02 minutes. Berhan Aregawi Gebremichael of Ethiopia followed in second, while Emily Waugh was placed third.