Houston Marathon 2011: Ethiopian Bekana Daba Sets Record

Source: HULIQ,  January 30, 2011

Raul Martinez watches runners make their way down Michaux during the fifth mile.

The Houston Marathon 2011 was run on Sunday, and despite the rain, and a restroom stop, Ethiopian Bekana, 22, Daba set a Houston Marathon record.

Bekana Daba's time in the Houston Marathon 2011 was 2:07:04, easily breaking the mark of 2:07:37 set by fellow Ethiopian Teshome Gelana in 2010. This year, however,. Gelana was unable to defend his title due to visa problems.

Daba took the lead at around 18 miles on the 26.2 mile Houston Marathon 2011 course. Far ahead of any competitors, at around the 25th mile, Daba left the course briefly. He stated the following, through an interpreter: "I was a little bit in need of going to the restroom. Somehow, I managed it."

The United State's Nick Arciniaga was second, with a personal-best of 2:11:30. Kenya-born Wilfred Murgor was third at 2:11:41.

Mamitu Daska finished in 2:26:33 to become the fifth straight female Houston Marathon winner from Ethiopia. However, her Houston Marathon 2011 time time was almost three minutes slower than the record set just last year by Teyba Erkesso (2:23:53).

That said, conditions were much better in 2010. The race began under cloudy skies and light drizzle with a temperature of 64 degrees, with rain picking up by mid-morning.

In the Houston Marathon 2011 men's division, the top 5 were:

Bekana D. Tolesa (18M) 2:07:04
Nicholas Arciniaga (32M) 2:11:30
Wilfred K Murgor (34M) 2:11:41
Rob Watson (9M) 2:16:17
Jesse L Davis (201) 2:18:47

In the Houston Marathon 2011 women's division, the top 5 were:

Mamitu Daska (29F) 2:26:33
Ashu Kasim (1F) 2:27:47
Stephanie E Rothstein (4F) 2:29:35
Belainesh Z Gebre (3F) 2:34:47
Selamie Getnet (5272) 2:36:34