Tigist Ketema crosses finish line during 2024 Dubai Marathon in Dubai on Sunday.

Making her debut memorable, Ethiopian Tigist Ketema won the 2024 Dubai Marathon in a record time of 2 hours 16:07 minutes on Sunday.

She also smashed the Dubai course record, improving the mark by 61 seconds.

In very good weather conditions fellow-Ethiopians Ruti Aga and defending champion Dera Dida took second and third places with 2:18:09 and 2:19:29 respectively.

Fourth placed German Melat Kejeta ran 2:21:47 and qualified for the Olympic Games.

For Ketema (25), the marathon win was a stunning turn after doubts about the switch. A career middle-distance runner, she even clinched the 2016 Ethiopian 800m title.

“I was quite afraid of the distance before I ran my first marathon but now, I wonder why,” she said after receiving the trophy from Sheikh Mansoor Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council.

In the men’s event, there was a unique double debutants’ triumph as 19 year-old Addisu Gobena stormed to victory in 2:05:01 to secure the winners’ trophy.

Fellow-Ethiopians Lemi Dumecha and Dejene Megersa, another debutant, followed in second and third spots in 2:05:20 and 2:05:42 respectively. Fifth placed German Samuel Fitwi smashed his personal best and also qualified for the Olympic Games with 2:06:27.