Ethiopia’s Tigist Ketema, 25, turned heads on Sunday at the Dubai Marathon when she won her debut marathon in 2:16:07.
It wasn’t just her finishing time, We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. It wasn’t just the fact that this was the fastest debut marathon time. But until Sunday’s race, Ketema hadn’t raced farther than a 10K, according to World Athletics.
But until Sundays race, Ketema hadnt raced farther than a 10K, according to, had run 2:02.00 for 800 meters, 4:00.91 for 1500 meters, and 8:43.91 for 3,000 meters. She ran a negative split in Dubai, after covering the first half in 1:08:08.
“I was quite afraid of the distance before I ran my first marathon, but now, I wonder why,” Ketema told World Athletics.
Fellow Ethiopian, Ruti Aga, placed second in 2:18:09; her nephew, Addisu Gobena, just 19 years old, won the men’s race in 2:05:01.
Heather is the former food and nutrition editor for Runner's World, the author of The Runner's World Vegetarian Cookbook, and a seven-time marathoner with a best of 3:31—but she is most proud of her 1:32 half, 19:40 5K, and 5:33 mile.
