Ethiopian athletes took top honours at the 45th Dublin Marathon on Sunday, with Abay Alemu Lesa and Zenebu Fikadu Jebesa crossing the finish line first in the men’s and women’s races respectively.
The two runners put in commanding performances across the 26.2 mile course, continuing a strong tradition of East African dominance in long distance road racing. Dublin once again proved to be a fast and competitive course, drawing elite talent from across the globe.
Abay Alemu Lesa claimed the men’s title, finishing ahead of the field in what was another impressive display of endurance and pacing. Lesa ran a controlled race, building through the miles before pulling clear of his rivals in the latter stages to take the win.
On the women’s side, Zenebu Fikadu Jebesa was equally impressive. She led the women’s race home to claim the title, adding her name to the list of champions at one of Europe’s most popular marathon events.
The Dublin Marathon, now in its 45th year, remains one of the biggest sporting events on the Irish calendar. Tens of thousands of runners take part each year, from elite athletes chasing prize money and personal bests to first timers completing the distance for charity or personal achievement. The streets of the capital fill up with supporters from early morning, making it one of the most atmospheric days out in the city.
This year’s race once again drew a massive crowd of recreational runners alongside the elite field, with many participants raising funds for charities across Ireland. The event has grown significantly since its early days and is now firmly established as a world class marathon, attracting top international athletes each year.
Organisers will be pleased with how the event went, with the course running through some of Dublin’s most iconic streets and neighbourhoods before finishing in the city centre. The logistics of managing thousands of runners through a busy capital city is no small feat, and the race has built a strong reputation for being well run and well supported.
For Ethiopian athletics, the result is another feather in the cap of a country that has produced some of the greatest distance runners in history. Both Lesa and Jebesa will leave Dublin with winner’s medals and no doubt have their sights set on more big races in the months ahead.
For the thousands of Irish and international amateur runners who also completed the course on Sunday, finishing the Dublin Marathon is an achievement in itself. Whether it took two hours or six, crossing that finish line in Dublin city centre is a moment that stays with people for life.