When you enter a race during Dubai’s summer months, it’s bound to be a hot and humid affair, no matter what the time of day. And so it was with the Nad Al Sheba Sports Tournament 10km road race, which took place at 10:15pm on the 24th June. Despite the harsh conditions, around 850 athletes of various nationalities lined up on the start line at the Falcon Heritage Centre in Meydan.
With categories including Elite Non-Resident, Elite Emirati and Open, the event attracted both local and international runners who were provided with two ‘misting stations’ along the route and water stations every two kilometres in a bid to keep them cool and hydrated. Furthermore, finishers were rewarded with an athletes’ village which included further opportunities for post-race hydration, as well as a recovery station offering protein shakes, massages, air-conditioned lounges, ice baths and therapy zones.
But before all this, there was a race to be run.
Moroccan Ahmed Tamri was the first Elite Non-Resident Male in an impressive time of 29:44, closely followed by Ethiopians Nigatu Getinet Bedane (29:47) and Ashenafi Moges (29:56). Tamri’s fellow countrymen dominated the men’s open category, with Samir Jouaher in first place (30:23), Anouar Al Ghouz second (30:23) and Brahim Slimanithird (30:42). The race between Jouaher and Al Ghouz was particularly exciting, with the final result requiring a photo finish.
The Elite Non-Resident Female category was also dominated by one particular country, this time with Ethiopians Berhe Hafte (30:22), Demiesa Berhan (35:30) and her sister Aregawi Berhan (35:31) claiming the podium spots.
In the women’s open category, Dubai based Anne Mari Hyrylainen had a comfortable win in a time of 35:50. Having recently qualified to represent her native Finland in the 2016 Olympics in Rio this summer, Hyrylainen will no doubt be thrilled by her performance. The Finn was joined on the podium by Belainesh Yami Gurmu of Ethiopia (37:44) and France’s Latifa Essarokh (38:24).
Finally, the elite Emirati category was won by Mubarak Rashid Hassan Al Marashda (32:37), with Obaid Mohammed Al Nuaimi in second (32:43) and Khalifa Mohammed Obaid Al Nuaimi (33:22) completing the line up.
RESULTS:
Elite Non-Resident Male
1. Ahmad Tamri (Morocco — 29:44)
2. Nigatu Getinet Bedane (Ethiopia — 29:47)
3. Ashenafi Moges (Ethiopia — 29:56)
4. Taufiq Allam (Morocco — 30:06)
5. Hassan Ghachoui (Morocco — 30:12)
Elite Non-Resident Female
1. Berhe Hafte (Ethiopia — 30:22)
2. Demiesa Berhan (Ethiopia — 35:30)
3. Aregawi Berhan (Ethiopia — 35:31)
Open Male
1. Samir Jouaher (Morocco — 30:23)
2. Anouar Al Ghouz (Morocco — 30:23)
3. Brahim Slimani (Morocco — 30:42)
4. Mohammad Ait Mamas (Morocco — 30:49)
5. Ismail Ssenyange (Uganda — 31:01)
Open Female
1. Anne Mari Hyrylainen (Finland — 35:50)
2. Belainesh Yami Gurmu (Ethiopia — 37:44)
3. Latifa Essarokh (France — 38:24)
4. Maryam Lamure (France — 39:47)
5. Liz Verheyden (Belgium — 40:20)
Elite Emirati
1. Mubarak Rashid Hassan Al Marashda (32:37)
2. Obaid Mohammad Al Nuaimi (32:43)
3. Khalifa Mohammad Obaid Al Nuaimi (33:22)
4. Ali Khalifa Hamad Saeed Al Wahshi (33:24)
5. Abdul Aziz Yaqoub Ahmad Al Ali (33:42)
Words by: Rachael Bruford
