January 12th, 2025

Hirpa Upsets Dida In Classic Finish

DUBAI (UAE): Ethiopian debutant Bute Gemechu was the surprise winner of the men’s title, while Berdatu Hirpa won a classic women’s race over the fast and flat roads of the Dubai Marathon.

Gemechu, a 23 year-old newcomer, who had only competed in a handful of international races, clocked a world leading time of 2:04:51, 23 seconds ahead of fellow debutant Berehanu Tsegu (2:05:14), while Shifera Tamru finished third (2:05:28) to complete an all-Ethiopian podium.

In a dramatic women’s finish, Bedatu Hirpa overtook fellow-Ethiopian Dera Dida on the finishing straight to win in a world lead of 2:18:27. While the 25 year-old celebrated her biggest career win and a huge personal best, Dida looked devastated as she crossed the line just five seconds adrift in 2:18:32.

For Dida, the wife of Olympic marathon champion Tamirat Tola and a Dubai winner in 2013, it was still a personal best as she finished ahead of Ethiopian Tigist Girma who claimed third in 2:20:47.

“Because it was my first marathon I didn’t know what to expect but at 36k I realised I could win,“ said a delighted Gemechu, after receiving his winner’s trophy from His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council.

The Ethiopian broke away from the leading group shortly after the 35k mark to make it the fifth time in a row the Dubai’s men’s race has been won by a man making his marathon debut.

Elsewhere in the men’s race, 41 year-old former world-record holder Dennis Kimetto of Kenya – who ran 2:02:57 in Berlin in 2014 – was 15th in 2:14:56 while Ethiopia’s former World Champion Lelisa Desisa did not finish.

In the women’s race, Dida looked to have secured her second Dubai victory after pulling away from training partner Hirpa with seven kilometres to go. But at the 40k mark, Dida saw her ten-second lead evaporate as stomach cramp effectively ended her challenge and she was overtaken by Hirpa with the finish line in sight.

“I was concentrating on my own race and did not realise that Dera had problems but I always thought I could win,“ said Hirpa

In all some 17,000 runners gathered for the Dubai Marathon with runners spread across the popular 10km Road Race, the 4km Fun Run and the classic 42.195km Marathon.

In the 10km race, the men’s event was won by Yassir Ech Chaachoui of Morocco in 28:20, while Gemene Tunku ran a strong world-leading time of 31:03 to edge out Chaltu Diriba in the women’s event. Britain’s Eilish McColgan took third in 31:14.

The 2025 Dubai Marathon was supported by the Dubai Sports Council, adidas, the Channel 4 Radio Network, ITP Media Group, XIAOMI, JETOUR, Bisleri Water, Dubai RTA, Dubai Police and Dubai Municipality and SIRO One Za’abeel, the first fully integrated Fitness + Recovery hotel in Dubai.