Ahead of Friday’s 2016 Dubai Marathon, Ali Khaled highlights the three runners to watch in the men’s and women’s fields:
Tsegaye Kebede (Ethiopia)
Won bronze at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and another at the World Championships in Berlin in 2009. The two-time London Marathon winner will be racing in Dubai for the first time.
Meselech Melkamu (Ethiopia)
Runner up at the Dubai Marathon in 2014 after missing out by on victory by just 22 seconds, she will be hoping to go one better this year.
Ayele Abshero (Ethiopia)
As a 21-year-old marathon rookie he overcame an experienced field to win the 2012 Dubai Marathon with a stunning time of 2hours 4minutes 23 seconds, a course record for the race, the fastest marathon debut ever and, at the time, the fourth fastest marathon time in history.
Mulu Seboka (Ethiopia)
Winner in 2014 in Dubai, and among the favourites to win the 2016 edition. Last year, Seboka finished fifth in Dubai, but recorded a new personal best course time of 2:21:56.
Tsegaye Mekonnen Asefa (Ethiopia)
Won the 2014 Dubai Marathon as an 18-year-old and aiming for a repeat as he eyes the Rio Olympics this summer.
Mamitu Daska (Ethiopia)
The 2010 winner returns to Dubai, meaning three former women’s winners will take part in one of the strongest field this race has ever seen.
