Top Women Set For Dubai Marathon

The course is one of the fastest in the world.

On January 25, some of the best female distance runners in the world will line up along that Dubai’s Emaar Boulevard.

It’s no secret that Dubai is an incredibly fast course. At last year’s edition, the top three women broke the 2:20 barrier, the first time something like this had happened in marathon history.

At next year’s race, Asselefech Medessa, the 2011 and 2012 champion, will be notably absent due to injury.

Therefore, the fastest runner in the field will be Paris Marathon champion Tirfi Tsegaye of Ethiopia.

“Last year we saw three women break 2:20 in Dubai, and Tirfi’s recent performances suggest she is highly capable of joining that elite group,” remarked Peter Connerton, Dubai’s Event Director.

“None of the three ladies who broke 2:20 in 2012 had run sub-2:20 before they raced in Dubai, so there is no reason why it can’t be done again. In terms of women’s running, Dubai has the fourth fastest course record/time in Marathon history behind London, Chicago and Berlin, so we know we have one of the fastest routes in the world.”

For More: Gulfnews.com