The 2025 Doha Marathon by Ooredoo lived up to expectation, with Ethlemahu Sintayehu and Ezra Kipketer Tanui taking the plaudits, January 17.
In the elite women’s race, Sintayehu clocked 2:21:43 and beat compatriot Muluhabt Tsega by 38 seconds.
Sintayehu, who placed sixth in the 3000m steeplechase at the 2018 World Under-20 Championships in Tampere, is now a marathon specialist and timed her race to perfection in the Qatari capital.
The Ethiopian is only 23 years old but showed immense patience when deciding to make a move away from the leading pack in the latter stages.
All sixth Ethiopians in the women’s field stayed together – aided by three male pacemakers – for the first half of the race, going through the 21.1km mark in 71:00.
However, the last few kilometres of the race proved decisive and with the finish line over the horizon, Sintayehu established a gap between herself and the others.
As she sprinted towards the tape on the red carpet, Sintayehu knew she’d secured the victory and held her arms aloft in celebration.
The Ethiopian also smashed her personal best of 2:25:36 – set in Abu Dhabi two years ago – over 26.2 miles.
In the elite men’s race, Kenya’s Ezra Kipketer Tanui clocked 2:07:28 and beat Ethiopia’s Balew Yihunle by just eight seconds.
Tanui, who finished fourth in the same event last year, wasn’t going to give up victory easily and broke away from his opponent in the last couple of kilometres.
After triumphing in a pulsating battle on Doha’s Corniche, the 27-year-old crossed the tape with both arms in the air, in what was just his second ever marathon.
“I’m happy to win the Doha Marathon by Ooredoo,” Tanui said. “Last year I finished fourth so I’m delighted I’ve won the race this year. Last year the weather was so hot but today it was cool and the course was good.
“I was feeling good because of my training and I have to pay huge tributes to my coach and manager. The workouts helped me relax today and, along with the cooler climate, it’s made a difference.”
Shura Kitata, the 2020 London Marathon champion, was the standout name at this year’s Doha Marathon by Ooredoo but he only placed ninth with 2:08:38.
The Ethiopian, who has also finished as a runner-up on two occasions at the New York City Marathon, has a best of 2:04:49 over 26.2 miles.
Both course records – Mouhcine Outalha’s 2:06:49 and Meseret Belete’s 2:20:46 from 2023 – survived another year.
Conditions were nigh on perfect for distance running – it was around 14C for the 6am start – so there’s no doubt that the Doha Marathon by Ooredoo will get quicker in the future.
This was just the third edition of the Doha Marathon by Ooredoo that hosted elite athletes, with the mass participation events going back to 2014.
Around 15,000 people took part in the 5km, 10km, half-marathon and marathon in the Qatari capital this year, up from 2000 in 2023.
Runners were treated to live music and other activities at Al Dafna Park, located just a short walk away from Doha’s Corniche.
Source: AW
