2013 Results

By MICHAEL CASEY

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -The Ethiopians maintained their dominance of the Dubai Marathon on Friday, as Lelisa Desisa overtook countryman Berhanu Shiferaw in the final kilometer to win in 2 hours, 4 minutes, 45 seconds.

The 23-year-old Desisa, making his marathon debut, was 22 seconds off last year's record time on the relatively flat course in cool and foggy conditions. The Ethiopians have won the race which has $1 million in prize money five of the past six years and collected the top four spots this year with Kenyan Bernard Kiprop finishing fifth. The field of Kenyans was not as strong as past years, however, with stars like three-time London Marathon winner Martin Lel and Chicago Marathon winner Moses Mosop pulling out at the last minute.

"To run my first marathon in 2:04, I'm very surprised," said Desisa, a specialist in the 10,000 meters who plans to use his $200,000 prize money to build a house and get married. "With the huge amount of money and my time, this has changed my life in one day."