Ethiopians risks all, wins all in Beirut

Ethiopian pair of Tamrat Elanso and Adaneche Beyene Jemilu proved to be easy winners of the BLOM Beirut International Marathon on Sunday, reports the IAAF.

But pride of place was acknowledged to belong to the meeting organisers who ensured the race went ahead without a hitch despite Lebanon's present political situation.

Race president May El Khalil stressing how it fetches her volatile country together said: "We have people from all sorts of religions and life running. We have entrants from the south and the north."

Khalil was delighted in excellent conditions and the event went ahead with positive results for Elanso and Jemilu who led a strong contingent from their country to the Lebanese capital.

"It was important that I succeeded today, it was a good chance for me to win my first marathon," said Elanso, who scorched ahead of his rivals after 35 kilometres to clinch a simple victory.

Elanso, 30, slowed after breaking up the field and running in isolation ahead of his opponents for the last seven kilometres, to crossed the finish line in 2:19:46 ahead of Kenya's David Kiplagat Kuino and his own countryman Abraham Yilma Belete.

Jemilu the fastest woman in the field and third in last January's Dubai Marathon, also scored an easy victory in 2:41:24.

She was far superior ahead of her fellow Ethiopians Meseret Legese Regesa and Etaferahu Tarekegn Getahun, who clocked marks of 2:48:52 and 2:55:14.