Meselech confirms for Dubai Marathon

Ethiopia's Meselech Melkamu, the silver medallist two seasons ago, confirmed her participation for the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon on Friday.
In 2014, Melkamu missed out on victory by just 22 seconds to fellow Ethiopian Mulu Seboka and the two will again lock horns when the first major marathon of Olympic year gets underway at 6.30am on Friday.
With a marathon personal best of 2hr 21min 01sec - set in Frankfurt in 2012 - Melkamu is the second fastest in the field behind another compatriot and 2013 Dubai champion Tirfi Tsegaye (2:20:18) with Seboka ranked third for what is shaping up to be a true battle of running thoroughbreds.
The second fastest female 10,000m runner in history, Meselech's marathon personal best came on her debut, at the time the third fastest debut ever, and she returns to the fast and flat course of Dubai fresh from her last outing where she finished fifth at the Ottowa Marathon - an IAAF Silver Label race - in Canada.
While she continues to make great strides in her marathon career, Melkamu is perhaps better known for her 29m:53.80s run over 10,000m which ranks her second on the all time list and making her one of only five woman in history to break the 30 minute barrier for the distance.