Bute Gemechu won in his debut and Bedatu Hirpa surged late to victory as Ethiopians dominated the 2025 Dubai Marathon on Sunday.
In the last 5k, Gemechu made a decisive move in the closing stages to cross the finish line in 2:04:51. Berehanu Tsegu finished second in 2:05:14 and Shifera Tamru took third 2:05:28 as 15 of the top 16 positions in the men’s field were all Ethiopians. Kenyan Dennis Kimetto was in 15th place in 2:14:56 as he attempted a comeback at the distance.
“Because it was my first marathon I didn’t know what to expect but at 36k I realized I could win,” Gemechu said after the trophy presentation. “Since I only decided to run the marathon two months ago, I really didn’t know what to expect. But when I got to 36 kilometers I realized I was going to win.”
Gemechu, a surprised winner, held steady with the lead group as the pack moved past the 35 kilometer marker but pulled ahead and put a small gap between Tsegu, who was also making his marathon debut.
The women’s field delivered a thrilling finish as Hirpa bolted to win in 2:18:27 after pulling away from Dera Dida with a late sprint. Dida held the lead with just over 5 kilometers to go and looked to capture the title in Dubai as she did in 2023.
But Dida faded as Hirpa — her training partner — continued to chip away at her shrinking lead and finished second in 2:18:32. Tigist Girma was third in 2:20:47 and Ethiopian women grabbed the top 16 spots at 2:30:03 or better.
“I was concentrating so much on my own race I didn’t realize that Dera was having problems,” Hirpa said to reporters after the race. “It was only when the gap between us closed so quickly, I realized that I could win. But I always believed I was going to win anyway.”
Hirpa seemed to contend with the heat better than Dida, who later said that she was battling stomach cramps and was unable to make one final push despite still leading with just under one kilometer left in the race. Hirpa bolted past and her 2:18:27 win pulls down her previous 2:21:09 personal best that she set at the Amsterdam Marathon last October.
Top finishers of the 2025 Dubai Marathon
Men’s elite field
1. Bute Gemechu (Ethiopia) – 2:04:51
2. Berehanu Tsegu (Ethiopia) – 2:05:14
3. Shifera Tamru (Ethiopia) – 2:05:28
4. Desalegn Girma (Ethiopia) – 2:06:52
5. Dejene Hailu (Ethiopia) – 2:07:03
6. Getachew Masresha (Ethiopia) – 2:07:04
7. Tadele Demissie (Ethiopia) – 2:08:21
8. Boki Diriba (Ethiopia) – 2:09:06
9. Embay Goitom (Ethiopia) – 2:09:08
10. Yismaw Atinafu (Ethiopia) – 2:09:32
Women’s elite field
1. Bedatu Hirpa (Ethiopia) – 2:18:27
2. Dera Dida (Ethiopia) – 2:18:32
3. Tigist Girma (Ethiopia) – 2:20:47
4. Zeineba Yimer (Ethiopia) – 2:21:12
5. Bertukan Welde (Ethiopia) – 2:21:54
6. Kuftu Yahir (Ethiopia) – 2:22:53
7. Gadise Mulu (Ethiopia) – 2:23:19
8. Almaz Kebebe (Ethiopia) – 2:23:30
9. Kebebush Yisma (Ethiopia) – 2:24:04
10. Dibabe Beyene (Ethiopia) – 2:24:38
