Three-Time Winner Mergia, Ex-World Champ Dibaba Set For Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon

Two of the world’s leading marathon runners Aselefech Mergia and Mare Dibaba will go head-to-head in the women’s event when the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon gets underway on January 26.

Mergia, who turns 33 just three days before the event, is the greatest female runner in the history of the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon having won three times and set the course record of 2:19:31 in her three appearances. It will be her first start in the world’s richest marathon since her last victory in the UAE in 2015.

But if the Ethiopian is to maintain her 100% winning record, she will need to see off a talented field that includes compatriots Dibaba, Marathon gold medalist at the 2015 IAAF World Championships and a bronze medal winner at the Rio Olympics in 2016, and defending champion Worknesh Degefa.