The 23rd edition of the Dubai Marathon witnessed the achievement of 24 qualification times for the "Paris 2024" Olympic Games, set to take place next summer. This edition attracted intense participation from elite runners worldwide, aiming to win the marathon while also securing their spots for the Olympics.
Held yesterday, Sunday, and supported by the Dubai Sports Council, the Dubai Marathon, one of the most famous and oldest marathon races in the region, took place on Umm Suqeim Street in the Jumeirah area, featuring top international runners and thousands of participants from various nationalities and ages both within the UAE and abroad.
The race saw an Ethiopian dominance in the top positions for both men's and women's categories. Addis Gebrhiwet finished first in the men's marathon, completing the 42.195 kilometers in a time of 02:05:01 hours, while his compatriot Tejistu Kitima claimed the title in the women's category, finishing in 02:16:07 hours and setting a new record for the Dubai Marathon.
Ahmad Al-Kamali, the marathon's general coordinator, stated that "the race saw significant participation from elite runners globally, especially from the African continent," with an aim to secure qualification for the Olympics, as the Dubai Marathon is considered the first qualifying event in 2024.
He added that 13 male runners achieved times better than the qualifying standard of 2:11:30 hours, while 11 female runners clocked times better than the women's qualifying standard of 2:29:30 hours, totaling 24 male and female runners.
Al-Kamali confirmed that the numbers and results achieved in this edition are an important step to restore the marathon's global stature, positioning it among the top six marathons worldwide for men and as the fourth-best for women.
He noted that the organizing committee would immediately start preparing for the 24th edition of the marathon, with plans to secure a new sponsorship agreement within the next two months, emphasizing the crucial role of all national institutions in the success of this marathon.
