Ethiopian Chala Ketema Regasa And Kenyan Catherine Reline Amanang’ole Triumph At ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon

The sixth ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon attracted over 33,000 participants, marking its largest turnout. Held on December 14, the event was organised by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and ADNOC. It featured five race categories: full marathon, marathon relay, 10 km, 5 km, and 2.5 km distances. Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber inaugurated the marathon and also crowned the winners.

The marathon commenced at 6:00 am near ADNOC headquarters on King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Street. Runners passed iconic landmarks such as Qasr Al Hosn and Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. This event highlighted Abu Dhabi's role in promoting international sports excellence and community engagement.

In the men's marathon, Ethiopia's Chala Ketema Regasa emerged victorious with a time of 2:06:16 hours. He narrowly missed his personal best by five seconds. Djibouti’s Ibrahim Hassan Bouh secured second place at 2:06:33, while Kenya’s Wilfred Kirwa Kigen finished third in 2:06:47.

Kenya’s Catherine Reline Amanang’ole dominated the women’s marathon in her debut with a time of 2:20:34. Eritrea’s Dolshi Tesfu Teklegergish followed in second place at 2:23:47, and Kenya’s Aurelia Jerotich Kiptui completed the podium with a time of 2:26:28.

The 10 km race saw fierce competition as Morocco’s Yassir Echchaachoui claimed first place in 28:41 minutes. His compatriot Ismail El Kharchi finished second in 29:01, closely followed by Ethiopia’s Urgesa Kitesa at 29:03. In the women's category, Ethiopia's Gemene Tunku won with a time of 32:40.

Morocco's Rkia Elmoukim took second place in the women's race at 33:01 minutes, while Ethiopia's Ayantu Kumsa finished third in 34:09 minutes. The event showcased strong performances from athletes across different nations.

Wheelchair Category and Participation

In the wheelchair category for the 10 km race, Emirati champion Saeed Aldhaheri triumphed with a time of 19:46 minutes. Fellow Emiratis Ayed Alahbabi and Theban Almheiri secured second and third places respectively. The event drew participants from various age groups and abilities.

Around 4,000 competed in the marathon and relay events, while approximately 7,000 participated in the 10 km race. The shorter distances of 5 km and 2.5 km attracted about 10,000 and 12,000 runners respectively. Families joined athletes to celebrate sport and health together.

Prize Pool and Acknowledgements

The total prize pool exceeded $300,000 for this year's marathon. Elite champions of the full marathon received $50,000 each. Other category winners were also awarded prizes for their achievements during this prestigious event.

Aref Hamad Al Awani from Abu Dhabi Sports Council stated that "The ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon has grown into a prestigious event that not only fosters a culture of fitness but also elevates Abu Dhabi’s reputation as a global sports capital." He expressed gratitude to ADNOC and supporting partners for their contributions to this successful event.

The dedication of volunteers was also acknowledged for ensuring smooth operations throughout the day. Their efforts contributed significantly to making this large-scale sporting occasion possible for all involved.

With inputs from WAM