Bute Gemechu and Bedatu Hirpa took victory as Ethiopian runners dominated the 2025 Dubai Marathon on Sunday (12 January).
On his marathon debut, Gemechu attacked with 6km to go of the 42.195km race distance. And the 23-year-old, who won June’s Guizhou Zhenning Huangguoshu Half Marathon on his last appearance, crossed the line in 2:04:51.
Berehanu Tsegu was 23 seconds behind with Shiferu Tamru rounding out the podium as Ethiopians filled the first 14 places. Kenya’s former world record holder Dennis Kimetto, now 41 years of age, was the first non-Ethiopian home in 15th.
In the women’s race, Hirpa stunned 2023 winner Dera Dida to snatch the win. Dida, the wife of reigning Olympic men’s champion Tamirat Tola, pulled clear just over 7km from home but was clearly struggling in the closing stages.
With her training partner and the line in sight, Hirpa hit the front inside the final 100m to win in 2:18:27. The 25-year-old took over two and a half minutes off her personal best with Dida finishing five seconds later in another career best time.
Tigist Girma was more than two minutes adrift third with Ethiopians occupying the first 16 places.
Below are the race results for the men’s and women’s marathons in Dubai.