Highlights from the 2015 Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon

Ethiopian runner Lemi Berhanu was the unexpected winner of this year's 2015 Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon.  See more at: http://gulfnews.com/gntv

Transcript

00:00Streets were blocked off and the masses swarmed to Umm Saqeem Road near Sukhmarinat to partake

00:15in this year's Dubai Marathon.

00:18Course records were set to be broken when one of the best elite fields ever seen at

00:21the Dubai Marathon, including three-time Olympic champion Kenenisa Bekele, led more than 25,000

00:27runners in the biggest mass participation event in the Middle East early Friday morning.

00:33The event kicked off with the 42K Marathon where the elites in the sport took to the

00:36streets of Dubai in an effort to claim the coveted title.

00:39The marathon was followed not long after by the 10K run which saw people from all over

00:43the world compete in groups, with their families or running solo in an effort to finish the

00:47race with the best time possible.

00:49After 2 hours, 5 minutes and 28 seconds, it was Ethiopian runner Lemi Berhanu who became

00:54this year's unexpected men's champion to the delight of the vibrant and ecstatic Ethiopian

00:58fans.

00:59Berhanu's time was just over a minute off the record time of 2 hours, 4 minutes and

01:0323 seconds.

01:05Asilfech Mergia produced a fabulous finish, laying down a time of 2 hours, 20 minutes

01:10and 3 seconds, narrowly defeating Gladys Chiranu by one second to snatch the women's title

01:15for her third time.

01:19And while no records were broken this year, the racing was intense and the crowd was thrilled

01:23with the results.

01:53Participants had a great time whether they were competing or running for fun and will

02:02be sure to be in attendance next year at one of the biggest and most popular events in

02:05the region.

02:06Logan Fish, Golf News.