25-year-old Ethiopian Tigist Ketema won the Dubai marathon in 2:16.07 this morning (Jan. 7), setting a new world record for fastest marathon debut.
Ketema's time, which shaved over a minute off the course record, surpasses Letesenbet Gidey's debut time of 2:16.49, set in Valencia in 2022. It also makes her the eighth-fastest woman in history.
Formerly a middle-distance runner, Ketema won 800m bronze at the 2016 World U20 Championships and 800m gold at the African U20 Championships the following year.
"I didn't expect to win my first marathon," Ketema is quoted as saying in athleticsweekly.com, "I only moved to the marathon because I wasn't getting the results I wanted at 800m and 1500m."
"I was quite afraid of the distance before I raced a marathon, but at the end, I wondered why."
"I will be very glad to run in the Olympics, but we will wait for God's will."
Ketema also thanked coach Gemedu Dedefo, who also coaches current world-record holder Tigist Assefa. Speaking afterward, Dedefo said, "Judging by her training, I thought she could do 2:15, but I can't be dissatisfied with what she has done."
Fellow Ethiopians Ruti Aga (2:18:09) and Dera Dida (2:19:29) came in second and third, and German Melat Kejeta, who returned to racing last summer after time off for the birth of her daughter, took fourth in 2:21:47, a personal best.
