MUSCAT, JAN 20
Morocco’s Mohammed El Morabity kept his lead in the 165 km Oman Desert Marathon Classic after edging past Oman’s Saleh al Saidi by 11 seconds in the 40 km third stage in the Wilayat of Bidiyah on Monday.
Mohammed came first in 4:14:39 ahead of Saleh (4:14:50) and Rachid El Morabity (4:25:33).
The pack of Omani runners continued their brilliant work to dominate the top 10.
Gaith al Saidi (4:25:55) came in fourth followed by Hani al Saidi (4:40:59), Khalid al Farsi (4:45:25), Russia’s Anton Zyrianov (5:05:55), Khalid Said al Jabri (5:16:59), Ibrahim al Mufarji (5:49:37) and Malik al Mufarji (5:49:40) in fifth to tenth positions respectively.
Morocco’s Aziza Raji remained on top of the women’s section as she finished in 5:52:44 to claim the third stage ahead of Great Britain pair of Lydia Oldham (6:30:49) and Sally Ford (7:18:53).
OMANIS IMPRESS
In the overall rankings after the third stage, Mohammed El Morabity (11:11:20) managed a 12 minutes 15 seconds lead over second-placed Saleh al Saidi (11:23:36) of Oman Army A team.
Saleh pushed former champion Rachid El Morabity to third by 1 minute 45 seconds while teammate Gaith al Saidi (11:53:16) claimed fourth ahead of Khalid al Farsi (12:59:41) of Oman Flour Mills Company A in fifth position.
Oman Army B team’s Hani al Saidi (13:10:37) and Khalid Said al Jabri (13:47:02) are in sixth and seventh spots while Russia’s Anton Zyrianov (14:15:39) is eighth after day three of the Oman Desert Marathon at the Rimal Al Sharqiya.
Oman Flour Mills pair of Malik al Mufarji (15:02:36) and Ibrahim a Mufarji (15:59:01) completed the top 10.
In the women’s section, Aziza Al Raji (16:02:06) topped followed by Lydia Oldham (18:44:02) and Sally Ford (19:22:58).
Midpoint Drama
The pivotal third stage of the Oman Desert Marathon began in the pre-dawn stillness, with camp generators humming to life at 4 am under a crisp 14°C desert morning.
The 40 km of relentless rolling dunes nicknamed ‘The Roller Coaster’ produced thrilling competition.
"These untouched golden dunes aren't just obstacles; they're the true test of an ultra-runner's spirit," remarked Race Director Said al Hajri.
The route's demanding profile forced many competitors to alternate between running and crawling up the steepest dunes, creating a spectacular display of human endurance against nature's grandest obstacles.
British runner Patrick Wiltshire, who tackled the course alongside Ireland's Shane McShera and Great Britain's Mohammed Ashraf Abdin, shared their experience: "Running along the dune tops was actually quite fun, despite sometimes having to crawl. The spectacular views made every challenging moment worthwhile."
Before the start, Medical Director Dr Muhannad al Subhi emphasised the importance of self-awareness: "We reminded all participants that their health takes precedence over competition. The desert demands respect, and we're here to ensure everyone finishes safely."
The race now reaches a crucial turning point as runners prepare for Tuesday’s unique night stage - a 30 km journey under the desert stars. Competitors will begin at staggered times based on their previous performances, maximising daylight navigation before experiencing the serene solitude of the night-time desert.
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