DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Haile Gebrselassie won the Dubai marathon Friday, falling 3 minutes short of his own world record.
The 36-year-old Ethiopian champion finished in 2 hours, 6 minutes, 9 seconds. Kenya’s Chala Dechase Beyene was second in 2:06:33, and Ethiopia’s Eshetu Wendimu Tsige finished third in 2:06:46.
The women’s race also was dominated by Ethiopians, with Mamitu Daska Molisa winning in 2:24:18 and Aberu Kebede Shewave finishing second in 2:24:26. Helena Loshanvang Kirop of Kenya was third in 2:24:54.
Gebrselassie set the world record in the 2008 Berlin marathon at 2:03:59.
On Friday, he complained of back problems and not sleeping well before the run along Dubai’s Persian Gulf coast. But, he said, he was content he won.
“It’s wonderful,” Gebrselassie said. “I wasn’t feeling very good this morning because I had a back problem but I’m very happy to win the race.”
He said woke up with a back pain and went to the doctor to check it out.
“I think I slept in a different position, on my stomach, and that caused the problem,” Gebrselassie said, and added that overall, the run was “fantastic.”
“This was very special and I’m very happy,” Gebrselassie said. “The weather was a bit warm, but overall not so bad.”
Mamitu Daska Molisa collapsed at the finish line after winning.
“I had always dreamt of winning here and I am very happy,” Molisa said.
