The Ethiopian national anthem resonated twice across the parade grounds of the Dubai Police Academy on Sunday as Nibret Melak and Anchinalu Dessie secured a stunning double victory at the 25th anniversary of the Dubai Marathon.
The event, renowned for its flat and fast course, once again proved to be a fertile ground for debutants and personal bests, as Ethiopian athletes swept the women’s podium and claimed the top two spots in the men’s race.
Melak’s Historic Debut
In the men’s category, 26-year-old Nibret Melak continued Dubai’s remarkable tradition of debutant winners. Clocking a world-leading 2:04:00, Melak became the sixth consecutive Ethiopian man to win the race on his marathon debut.
Melak remained tucked within a large lead group of 20 runners until the 35km mark. Once the final pacemaker dropped out, he unleashed a decisive surge that shattered the field. He finished nearly two minutes ahead of his training partner, Yasin Haji (2:05:52). Rwanda’s John Hakizimana took third place in 2:06:04, setting a new Rwandan national record.
“I was very well prepared and it was always my goal to win on my debut,” Melak said after the race. “My big goal in the future is to break the world record.”
Dessie’s Hat-trick of Wins
On the women’s side, Anchinalu Dessie maintained her perfect career record, making it three wins from three marathon starts. Dessie slashed nearly four minutes off her personal best to finish in 2:18:31.
The race was a tight tactical battle until the final 2km, when fellow Ethiopian Muliye Dekebo, who had been leading, was hampered by stomach issues. Dessie capitalized at the 40km mark to storm home for the gold. Dekebo recovered to take second in 2:18:43, while pre-race favorite Fantu Worku completed the Ethiopian sweep of the podium, finishing third in 2:19:08.
