Ketema breaks world record for fastest marathon debut

FE Team | Published: January 07, 2024 22:24:15

Ethiopian Tigist Ketema at the finish line at the Dubai Marathon 2024, finishing in 2:16:07 on Sunday — Twitter

Ethiopian runner Tigist Ketema broke the world record for fastest marathon debut in Dubai on Sunday, shaving more than a minute off the course record, report agencies.
Clocking a time of 2:16:07, the 25-year-old became the eighth fastest woman in marathon history as she took gold, breaking the Dubai course record by 61 seconds. She also smashed the Dubai course record, improving the mark by 61 seconds. In very good weather conditions fellow-Ethiopians Ruti Aga and defending champion Dera Dida took second and third places with 2:18:09 and 2:19:29 respectively. Fourth placed German Melat Kejeta ran 2:21:47 and qualified for the Olympic Games
In the men's event, there was a unique double debutants' triumph as 19 year-old Addisu Gobena stormed to victory in 2:05:01 to secure the winners' trophy. Fellow-Ethiopians Lemi Dumecha and Dejene Megersa, another debutant, followed in second and third spots in 2:05:20 and 2:05:42 respectively. Fifth placed German Samuel Fitwi smashed his personal best and also qualified for the Olympic Games with 2:06:27.
A former African Under-20 Championships gold medallist in the 800 metres, Ketema established herself as a long distance running prospect by winning the Great Ethiopian Run 10 km race in 2022.