Dubai: While the absence of Haile Gebrselassie has thrown open the men's event, equally strong will be the contest among women when the 12th Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon comes alive in the early hours tomorrow.
Thirty-seven-year-old Berhane Adere of Ethiopia has defied her age to clinch a place among the strong contenders. Speaking to Gulf News, Adere, who won the Dubai Marathon in 2008, said: "I have practised very hard in Addis Ababa hoping to win here again. I feel very good this time."
Adere won with a timing of 2:22.42sec last time, but her best was in the 2006 Chicago Marathon which she won in 2:20:42sec.
"This is my third visit to Dubai and hopefully I can win the title again. I feel I am fit enough to do it again," added Adere, who won the gold medal in the 10,000m in the 2003 World Championship.
Though injuries had pulled her back, she finished 14th in the London Marathon with a timing of 2:33.46sec.
In February last year she ran 67:32sec to win the Rock ‘n' Roll Half Marathon in New Orleans and went on to also win the Great North Run in North of England in 68.49sec.
Great form
Another strong contender is Ethiopia's Askale Magarsa, who won the Dubai Marathon in 2007.
Among the men's runners, the spotlight will be on Eliud Kiptanui of Kenya. He has proved he is in great form by emerging as the Prague Marathon winner. His personal best of 2:05:39sec makes him a strong favourite.
Speaking about his chance to set a new mark here, Kiptanui's manager, Volker Wagner, said: "Kiptanui is in good shape for the run. There's no pressure and he can do whatever he wants.
"He wants to go for the world record at some point, but maybe not this time; just run the course, see what it's like and prepare for next year."
Giving a strong chase to Kiptanui will be Kenya's Chala Dechase, who gave Gebrselassie a good run last year to finish second at 2:06:33sec.
Gebrselassie, however, emerged the winner crossing the finish line 24 seconds ahead of Dechase.
Incidentally, Dechase showed glimpses of his form and ability to clinch a third place in the Amsterdam Marathon with a timing of 2:07:23sec in October last year.
Ethiopia's Eshetu Wendimu, who finished third last year with a timing of 2:06:46sec, is also among those who have returned this year. He was one of Gebrselassie's favourite pacemakers. For the past two years he has finished third in Dubai and will surely look to better that record.
Evans Cheruiyot of Kenya, who set a marathon best of 2:06:25sec to emerge winner in Chicago in 2008, is also a strong favourite.
An intense race looks to be in the offing.