Shure Demise and Meselech Melkamu have both reached the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon podium in previous years, and the Ethiopian duo return for this year’s race aiming to win the world’s richest marathon.
Melkamu, 31, finished runner-up in 2014 when she missed out to compatriot Mulu Seboka, while Demise claimed fourth place in 2015, setting a junior world record in the process.
Melkamu is an accomplished long-distance runner, winning 10,000m world championship silver in Berlin in 2009. The previous year she also claimed silver on the world stage, at the Valencia world indoor championships in the 3000m.
“I want to reach times in the marathon that are as good as the results I achieved in the 10,000m,” said Melkamu, who has accumulated a haul of eight medals at world championships, world indoor xhampionships and world cross-country championships.
Demise, who turns 21 on the eve of the Dubai Marathon, won the last two Toronto Marathons and will be hoping to celebrate her birthday in style with victory in Dubai where the winner receives a cheque for $200,000 (Dh734,500).
“Over the years we have enjoyed some amazing battles in the women’s race, including the 2012 Marathon when the top three women all broke 2h:20, which still remains unmatched by any other Marathon,” said Event Director Peter Connerton.
Joining Demise and Melkamu in the Dubai line up are fellow Ethiopians Tadelech Bekele, who returns following her seventh place in 2015, and Arage Yebrgual, winner of both the Prague and Boston Marathons in 2015.
“Like their male counterparts, the leading female athletes are all keen to compete in Dubai,” said Event General Co-ordinator, UAE Athletics Federation Chairman and IAAF Council Member Ahmed Al Kamali.
“The nature of the course and the wonderful running conditions lend themselves to fast times and the opportunity to set a new personal best, while the financial incentive is also bigger than other events.”
Runners looking to enter the marathon, the 10 kilometre and the 4km Fun Run should visit www.dubaimarathon.org.
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