Ethiopia celebrated a triumphant performance at the Dubai Marathon on Sunday, with its athletes dominating the top spots.
Bute Gemechu claimed the men’s title with an impressive time of 2:04:51. The 23-year-old, still early in his international career, has only participated in a few major races to date.
In a thrilling women’s race, Bedatu Hirpa surged past her compatriot Dera Dida in the final stretch to win with a world-leading time of 2:18:27. While Hirpa marked her biggest career victory and set a personal best, Dida, who finished just four seconds behind in 2:18:31, appeared devastated at the line.
It was a remarkable sight against the iconic Dubai skyline, as Ethiopian runners claimed the top 10 spots in both the men’s and women’s categories.