Impressive 2:19 debut for Kabuu in Dubai

• Ayele Abshero and his Ethiopan colleagues turn men’s marathon tide rewriting records books in Dubai

Lucy Kabuu on Friday became the third fastest Kenyan woman marathon runner, but defending champion Ethiopian Asefelech Mergia denied her victory on her marathon debut at the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon.

Kabuu’s time of two hours, 19 minutes and 34 seconds saw her join Kenya’s sub 2:20 class of former world marathon record holder Catherine Ndereba and Mary Keitany.

Ndereba clocked 2:18:47 to win the 2001 Chicago Marathon, then a world record, before returning to Chicago for a 2:19.26 the following year when she finished second behind world record holder (2:15.25), Britain’s Paula Radcliffe who won in the second fastest all-time 2:17.18.

World half marathon record holder Keitany is the second fastest ever Kenyan after winning last year’s London Marathon in 2:19:19. Kabuu’s time yesterday is the 12th fastest all-time.

In the men’s race on Friday, Ayele Abshero and his Ethiopan colleagues turned the marathon tide substantially, rewriting the record books.

Abshero, just past 21, ran the fastest winning debut in history, taking the Dubai title in an event record time of 2.04.23, which also makes him the fourth fastest man ever.

Meanwhile, even though Athletics Kenya (AK) have selected a tentative marathon team for the London Olympic Games, Kabuu still kept her fingers crossed hoping that the selectors might have a change of mind.

With the only woman up front, Kabuu was left on her own after the pacesetters dropped out at the 30km mark.

Her inexperienced sprightly legs would wilt as Mergia overtook her with 400m remaining to defend her Dubai title.

Mergia ran a national and course record, with a personal best of 2.19.31 as Kabuu finished three seconds adrift with another Ethiopian Mare Dibaba coming in third in a personal best 2.19.52.

Targets a sub 2:17

“The pace was so high and the windy course made it even tricky, but I thank God for the good time and second place on my marathon debut,” said Kabuu.

“I will wait for any outcome from AK since you never know what could happen.”

Kabuu said that in case her Olympic dream doesn’t materialise this time, she would target a sub 2:17 at the Paris Marathon on April 15 or at the Chicago Marathon in October.

“I should achieve that with a flat course and good weather conditions,” said Kabuu.