The 2014 Abu Dhabi Striders Half Marathon and 10 kilometre road race saw record numbers of participants take to the streets of the Yas Island, as 2000 runners enjoyed the cool temperatures and a flat course.
2000 runners hit Yas Island in the 2014 Abu Dhabi Striders Half Marathon
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Uganda’s Ismail Ssenyange won the men’s category for a second successive year, with a time of 1 hour 9 minutes and 24 seconds, ahead of Kenya’s Paul Muturi and Colombia’s Juan Carlos Chaparro Lemus.
Anne-Mari Hyrylainen won the women’s race in a time of 1 hour 17 minutes and 44 seconds, ahead of British duo Laura Holton and Jill Mair.
The 10 kilometre men’s race was led by UAE’s Osama Saeed, who won by a slim six second margin over Colombia’s Jefferson Calderon, followed by France’s Damien Catani in third place.
Travelling all the way from Ethiopia, Melat Bikila won women’s 10 kilometre ahead of New Zealand’s Alice Wilson and last year’s winner, Leanne Fanoy from the Netherlands.
“We are delighted that this event continues to grow year-on-year and is so well supported by the community” Daniel Hughes of the Abu Dhabi Striders organising committee said.
“Yas Island provides one of the most picturesque locations in the region and the organisers and volunteers work hard to produce a memorable day for families.”
The Abu Dhabi Striders annual half marathon participation surged for a fifth straight year with an increase of nearly 500 runners as 2000 registered for the capital city’s running event.
The race began and ended at Yas Waterworld, with runners taking in the sights of the Yas Hotels, Yas Marina, Yas Parkland and other iconic features of the leisure island.