Dubai: The Race Director for the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon has insisted that the annual long distance road race has still a long way to run.
Peter Connerton, Race Director for the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon that is traditionally held in the last week of January, admitted that none of the success would have been possible without the backing and support of the various government entities involved in the race.
“This award is for all those who work tirelessly behind the scene to make the Dubai Marathon such a huge success,” Connerton said, along with race founder Ahmad Al Kamali after receiving the five-star rating award from Shaikh Mansour Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President, Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC), late on Wednesday.
“This award will only push us forward towards achieving greater heights for the race while pushing the boundaries of long distance road running in the UAE and in the region at large,” he added.
Held for the first time in 2000, runners from Ethiopia and Kenya have dominated the winners’ podium. Kenyan Wilson Kibet holds the record of winning the first three editions of the men’s marathon, while world record holder Haile Gebrselassie won the race in 2008, 2009 and 2010, with his best time of 2:04.53 coming in 2008.
The course record in Dubai, however, is held by Ethiopia’s Ayele Abshero when he timed 2:04.23. “We are confident for the future. Dubai has become the favourite haunt of many famous runners and world champions. We are confident we can have a new world record right here in the future,” Connerton said.
