Yomi Omogbeja (07/01/2005)

Ethiopian athletes recorded a double upset over the Kenyans after taking both men’s and women’s titles in the 2005 Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon.

Little-known Dejene Guta Robi and debutant Diribe Hunde both won over more established opponents.

Dejene Guta, in only his second race outside of Ethiopia, kicked out with just over five kilometres to go and won in 2:10:49.

Pre-race favourite, Willy Cheruyiot of Kenya won the sprint battle for the second position in 2:11:24. Ethiopia's Giday Amha followed closely in third place with 2:11:26.

Diribe Hunde, 20, outsprinted the more experienced Delia Asiago of Kenya to win her debut marathon race in 2:39:08.

Asiago was second in 2:39:13 and Larisa Malikova of Russia third in 2:40:27.

Ethiopian Hunde got a whopping $15,000 for her win, whilst Guta collected $25,000 and a bonus for breaking 2:12.

RESULTS

MEN

1 Dejene GUTA (ETH) 2:10:49
2 Willy CHERUYIOT (KEN) 2:11:24
3 Giday AMHA (ETH) 2:11:26
4 Johnstone KIPKOROR (KEN) 2:11:28
5 Augustus KAVUTU (KEN) 2:11:39
6 Joseph MUTUNGA (KEN) 2:11:53
7 Geb GEBREMARIAM (ETH) 2:12:01
8 Joseph KADON (KEN) 2:12:07
9 Getuli BAYO (TAN) 2:12:53
10 Shimeles MOLAH (ETH) 2:13:23

WOMEN

1 Diribe HUNDE (ETH) 2:39:08
2 Delia ASIAGO (KEN) 2:39:13
3 Larisa MALIKOVA (RUS) 2:40:27
4 Yihunelesh BEKELA (ETH) 2:43:10
5 Selomie GETNET (ETH) 2:43:37
6 Emily JETOO (KEN) 2:48:10