The 25th edition of the Dead Sea Half Marathon will take place on Saturday 17 February in Ein-Gedi, Israel, with an expected 2000 participants in the Half Marathon, 10 km and fun run, drawn from more than 12 countries all over the world.
This is a unique race on the course situated at the lowest point of dry land on earth – 398m below sea level, along the shores of the huge salty lake known as the Dead Sea. The area is famous for its low humidity and high oxygen concentration which reduces fatigue. The entire Dead Sea landscape is dotted with the ruins of magnificent palaces, strongholds, synagogues, monasteries and mosques, some of which are more than 5000 years old.
The course records were established in 2001 by Kenya’s Gilbert Koech – 1:03.35, and in 2000 in the women’s category by Lornah Kiplagat – 1:11:21 – who is now the World Road race Champion. The weather can become a major obstacle as it can be very windy or very warm at this time of the year.
MEN
The main contender for the success is 21-year old Yanos Nagatu from Ethiopia. He was the third overall at the Ethiopian Half Marathon Championships in May 2006 (PB 1:03:10). In October 2006 he also ran his first marathon at Ethiopian national Championships and was placed 13 overall (2:19:21). In January 2005 Negatu won national cross-country youth championships, completing 12km barefoot (37:02).
Among his opponents will be his young countrymen Nile Admasu Gebre (PB 1:02:30), Tadesse Darege (PB 1:03:12), who was the third in this race in 2006, and Israeli record holder in this race (1:04:56 since 1995), and 2006 winner, 45-year old Ayala Satain.
WOMEN
In women’s race challenging for honours will be Ethiopian Kalkidan Dagne (PB 1:12:10) the defending champion, 37-year old Nili Avramski, the Israeli record holder (1:16:36 in 2005), and returning to her 17th in a row Dead Sea Half Marathon and 10 km defending champion Svetlana Bahmand (38:57).
Yelena Kurdyumova and Sergey Porada for the IAAF
