DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Ethiopia’s Ayele Abshero broke the Dubai Marathon course record in his marathon debut Friday, finishing in 2 hours, 4 minutes, 23 seconds.
The 21-year-old Abshero moved to the front of a pack at 21.1 miles, then pulled away from countryman Dino Sefir Kemal at 24.2 miles. Kemal was second, 25 seconds back.
Abshero shaved 30 seconds off the course record set by Haile Gebrselassie in 2008.
In the women’s race, Asselefech Medessa made it an Ethiopian double, successfully defending her title in 2:19:31. She held off Kenya’s Lucy Kabuu by 3 seconds.
