The Dubai Marathon offers an approximate prize money of Ksh26 million and Betty Chepkwony is among the Kenyans announced for the event.
The 2024 Dubai Marathon, the first international marathon of the new year, has attracted some of the strongest athletes who will assemble at the Umm Suqeim on Sunday, January 7.
The marathon is among the highest-paying marathons, offering a total prize of Ksh26,166,000 for international athletes. The top three athletes are set to pocket Ksh12,460,000, Ksh6,230,000, and Ksh3,115,000 respectively.
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Rotterdam and Osaka Marathon winner Haiven Hailu Desse of Ethiopia and reigning Rome Marathon champion Betty Chepkwony of Kenya are looking to add to their title collection in the women’s field.
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Chepkwony, 28, made her breakthrough in the international marathon scene by winning the Rome Marathon nine months ago in a personal best time of 2:23:02.
Still only 25, Hailu has already excelled over the marathon distance with victories in the Netherlands in April 2022 (2:22:01) and a year later in Japan (2:21:13), while her personal best of 2:20:19 came when finishing third in the 2019 Amsterdam Marathon.
In the men’s field, Ethiopians Workineh Tadese Mandefro and Kebede Tulu Wami lead the way with both looking to win their first Dubai Marathon titles.
A personal best of 2:05:07 from the Hamburg Marathon in 2022 was a major improvement on Tadese’s marathon journey shaving more than two minutes of his previous Personal Best set at the Amsterdam Marathon six months earlier.
Another of the fastest elite men, Ethiopian Kebede Tulu has been on a steady upward curve in his short marathon journey.
Since finishing eighth at the 2020 Mumbai Marathon, he has consistently lowered his PB every time he has completed the marathon distance.
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“The elite field is looking strong with several more names to be confirmed in the coming weeks.
"The athletes are excited about the event returning to the flat and fast course around Umm Suqeim, the Burj Al Arab, and the Jumeirah Beach Road, which is renowned for delivering fast times,” said Event Director Peter Connerton.
Runners who have still not registered for the three-race event can sign up for the Marathon, the 10km, and the 4km Fun Run at the Dubai Marathon official portal.
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Holders of a valid UAE residence visa and UAE driving licence can also enter a special prize draw to win an EXEED RX, courtesy of EXEED by Al Ghurair, the renowned premium vehicle brand represented by AG Auto in the UAE.