Bahrain’s Shitaye claims top 10 finish in Dubai Marathon

TDT | Manama                                                     

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahraini elite athlete Shitaye Eshete claimed a top 10 finish yesterday, taking sixth, in the women’s race of the Dubai Marathon.

The event was a World Athletics Label road race which featured a renowned super flat course that stretched on Jumeirah Beach Road.

Shitaye completed the race distance in two hours 21 minutes 55 seconds.

She was more than five minutes behind women’s race winner Tigist Ketema of Ethiopia, who made a stunning debut in Dubai to triumph in 2:16:07.

Ruti Aga was the runner-up in 2:18:09 and Dera Dida third in 2:19:29 to make it an all-Ethiopian top three.

Melat Kejeta of Germany came fourth in 2:21:47 while Amid Fozya Jemal of Ethiopia was just two seconds ahead of Shitaye at the finish in 2:21:53.

Shitaye’s time was close to her personal best of 2:21:33, which she set in 2019.

Yesterday’s marathon was her first participation of 2024, which is an Olympic year with the Paris Olympic Games set to take place in July and August.

Shitaye is one of Bahrain’s top elite athletes who are looking to be a part of the Kingdom’s Olympic delegation.

The 33-year-old long-distance specialist is a three-time Asian champion and also a former Asian indoor champion.