Record number of participants turn up to make Ooredoo Doha Marathon grand success

A record number of over 2,400 participants turned up for the sixthedition of the Ooredoo Doha Marathon yesterday. HE Salah bin Ghanem binNasser al-Ali, Minister of Culture and Sports, HE Sheikh Abdulla binMohamed bin Saud al-Thani, the Chairman of Ooredoo, were present on theoccasion. The Ooredoo Doha Marathon, which is fast becoming an favouriteinternational event for runners of all ages and abilities, was set alongQatar’s beautiful Corniche and Doha skyline and offered the competitorsthe chance to win a range of different prizes based on categories, age,and gender. As part of the company’s vision to encourage more people to get fit andactive, Ooredoo, in partnership with Qatar Tourism Authority, invited ahost of renowned international athletes to take part in a special ‘EliteCategory’ with a prize of $ 50,000, up for grabs. Mo Farah did not enjoy such a successful trip, however, as the 10-timeglobal track gold medallist withdrew before the start of thehalf-marathon, due to a tight Achilles. Farah warmed up for the race buthad to pull out before the start. Alex Kibet of Kenya got the HalfMarathon (21km) win in 1:01:53 in Farah’s absence as over 2,400 runnerstook part in the event from 83 different nationalities. In the women’s,Allie Kieffer of United States, the surprise fifth place finisher at the2017 New York marathon, showed she is in great form as she got adominant win in 1:10:40, lowering her PB from 74:13.The Full Marathon (42km) title went to 27-year-old Chebii CollinsKiptarus from Kenya in men’s in a time of 2:16:22, while the women’stitle was clinched by Nancy Joan Rotich of Kenya. The 29-year-old’swinning time was 2:24:06. Winner of the Great Scottish Run in 2017 ChrisThompson, Germany’s marathon record holder Arne Gabius, Turkey’stwo-time Olympian Bekir Karayel, Michael Shelley, the 2014 CommonwealthGames marathon champion, Gemma Steel, European Cross-Country Championalso participated in the events.Speaking about the Ooredoo Doha Marathon, Waleed al Sayed, ChiefExecutive Officer, Ooredoo, said, “We’re delighted with this year’sMarathon turn-out, which not just included runners, but hundreds ofspectators cheering on their loved ones and our Elite Category runners.Congratulations to everyone who competed and to our all the winners.”“This edition of the marathon is a significant one for Qatar and wehoped to create a spirit and sense of community more than ever, which iswhy participants ran under the slogan ‘United We Run’. I am delightedto announce that it has been a bigger and better event than ever and hastruly helped cement Qatar as a first-class sporting destination,” headded. This year’s marathon event featured courses for runners of all abilities- including a 10km and 5km run, half-marathon, full marathon, EliteCategory and a special children’s 1km Fun Run. ResultsFull Marathon (42km)Men’s: 1. Chebii Collins Kiptarus (KEN) Time: 2:16.22 secs; 2. HenryKipsang (KEN) 2:20:33; 3. Dickson Terer (KEN) 2:24:33; 4. Fahadal-Buenain (QAT) 2:24:55; 5. Alan Caldwell (GBR) 3:13:06Women’s: 1. Nancy Joan Rotich (KEN) Time: 2:46:24; 2. Pia Sundstedt(FIN) 3:25:56; 3. Perrine Fages (FRA) 3:28:09; 4. Loretta Soff (GBR)3:31:50; 5. Chloe Stevenson (RSA) 3:35:05Half marathon (21km)Men’s: 1. Alex Kibet (KEN) Time: 1:01:53; 2. Benard Korir (KEN) 1:02:07;3. Chris Thompson (GBR) 1:03:03; 4. Ayad Lamdassem (ESP) 1:03:09; 5.Abdi Abirahman (USA) 1:03:18Women’s: 1. Allie Kiefer(USA) Time: 1:10:40; 2. Gemma Steele (GBR)1:12:37; 3. Faith Chepkoech (KEN) 1:12:44; 4. Emma Bates (USA) 1:12:52;5. Esma Aydemir (TUR) 1:13:36Ooredoo Doha Marathon featured courses for runners of all abilities - including a 10km and 5km run, half-marathon, full marathon and a special children’s 1km fun run.