Running News Daily

Dubai Marathon winner only entered just Days Before

Ethiopia's Mosinet Geremew won the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon with a course record of 2:04:00 in one of the most thrilling finishes in marathon history.

The 27 year-old, who entered the race just days before, sprinted across the finish line followed by four more runners within eight seconds.

In all, seven runners clocked sub 2:05.00 with six of them no slower than 2:04:15. In near perfect weather conditions, the leading group ran a very consistent pace. After a half marathon split time of 61:36, the world record of 2:02:57 was still in reach at 30k, which was passed in 1:27:35.

However, after the last pacemaker dropped out, the pace fell and the athletes focused on winning the US$200,000 first prize.