Newcomers and rising stars headline sixth Adnoc Abu Dhabi Marathon

Kenyan Raymond Choge and Chala Ketema of Ethiopia among strong field for race on Saturday

From left: Dolshi Tesfu, Raymond Choge, Mike Boit, Chala Ketema, Catherine Reline Amanang’ole and Vibian Chepkiriu at the launch of Adnoc Abu Dhabi Marathon. Photo: ADSC

A number of fresh faces will look to make a mark at the sixth Adnoc Abu Dhabi Marathon with a prize fund of $300,000 up for grabs on Saturday.

Once again, African runners dominate the field but many have not competed against each other, making it a unique race.

Kenyan runner Raymond Choge and Ethiopian Chala Ketema have arrived in the UAE after recording personal best times and are looking forward to doing even better in Abu Dhabi.

Choge ran the Milano Marathon in two hours, seven minutes and 36 seconds to finish second in that race in April. Ketema clocked 2:06:11 to win the Valencia Marathon in 2023.

“I have been running marathons for the last six years and it’s not something new to me,” Choge told The National when the elite runners were unveiled at the Adnoc Marathon Village at the Corniche on Thursday.

“The runners in Abu Dhabi are all newcomers and competing in their first marathon in the city. However, we are not new to racing. For me, I’m more confident of a win because I know myself and I believe in myself.

“I've been training well, everything has been going well for me back in Kenya and I'm ready for the next one.”

Choge, 36, runs most of his marathons in Europe and the Kenyan has fallen in love with Abu Dhabi’s beauty and the December weather.

“I have seen the Abu Dhabi Marathons on video but I never expected the city to be so amazing,” he added.

“I would expect the wide flat roads and the cool early morning weather conditions to be conducive for a fast race. I would like to think a personal best for myself.”

Choge is another classic story of a Kenyan long-distance runner overcoming poverty and hardship to reach the top.

“I’m here today as an elite runner, but it took me years and years of hard work and sacrifices to achieve my goals,” he said of his journey as a marathon runner.

“In Kenya, getting into running is very competitive. I was around 15 when I first competed in the 1,500m races back home. It has been running for me all the way through.

“I’m not rich but earn a decent living now as compared to what I had to go through in my teenage days. Now I’m here and competing in one of the elite marathons.”

Ketema, 27, has the same desire and is upbeat of a good run, while also targeting a personal best.

“The weather is pretty similar to back home in Ethiopia and the roads are flat and fast, and the aim is to run a fast race and perhaps go for a personal best,” he said.

Heading the women’s field is Eritrea’s Dolshi Tesfu, who is a two-time Olympian – 2020 Tokyo and Paris this summer.

Tesfu believes she has prepared well to challenge for the crown in Abu Dhabi as the highest profile runner in the women’s race.

“I think I’m going into this race in good shape and with confidence,” she said. “Obviously it’s never going to be easy with some first-time runners in the marathon. At the end, it will be the best on the day. I hope it’s me.”

Catherine Reline Amanang’ole makes her marathon debut after serving as a pacemaker in the London Marathon in 2023.

The Kenyan is the half marathon champion and is expected to pose a strong challenge to Tesfu.

“I have trained well and stepping up in distance,” she said. “Let’s see how it works out for me on the day. I want to run my race nevertheless.”