Ashero, Medessa win Dubai Marathon

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - Ayele Abshero broke the Dubai Marathon course record in his marathon debut Friday, finishing in 2 hours, 4 minutes, 23 seconds to give Ethiopia a morale-boosting victory over rival Kenya in an Olympic year.

The 21-year-old Abshero moved up to the full marathon distance after breaking the hour mark in the half marathon last year in the Netherlands. He 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, 27 seconds back.

"I prepared very well for this marathon. Even though this is my first marathon, I was confident I would perform well,'' Abshero said. "By winning, I'm very happy. For the next marathon, this win will be a big motivation ... If I can go to the Olympics, I will try and do something special.''

Markos Geneti was third, completing an Ethiopian sweep.

Abshero shaved 30 seconds off the course record set by Haile Gebrselassie in 2008.

Abshero was among a group of 30 who jumped out to the front early in the $1 million marathon that started in the shadows of the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building. The mostly flat route took runners along the Persian Gulf coast where the lead back was reduced to nine and then four before finishing at the Burj Khalifa.

"I knew it would be a very hard race and very tactical race,'' Abshero said. "At 38 kilometers (23.6 miles), there were four runners and at 42 kilometers (26.1 miles), I started to push. The other guys were dropping back and it was at that moment I knew I would win the race.''

Abshero's victory was unexpected not only because of his inexperience but because of the number of top Kenyans entered in the race. Five-time major winner Martin Lel and 2011 champion David Barmasai couldn't keep pace and dropped out of contention with about 6 miles to go.

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.

"This is special day for me,'' Mergia said. "Last year, I was first and then again this year. It brings me great happiness.''

Third in the 2010 London Marathon, Mergia said she turned to her experience to edge Kabuu.

"Lucy can run a fast half-marathon but in this case I am the experienced marathon runner,'' Mergia said. "I had the advantage. The last few kilometers were very tough because there was big competition between us. But after 41 kilometers (25.5 miles), there was a gap between us and I knew that I was going to win the race.''

Kabuu, a 10,000-meter star, was running her first marathon.

Ethiopia's Mare Dibaba was third, 21 seconds behind Mergia.

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