SOUTH KOREA: TANZANIA’S Gabriel Geay delivered when it mattered most, storming to a second consecutive title at the Daegu Marathon in South Korea after a breathless sprint finish that separated gold from silver by the finest of margins.
Geay stopped the clock at 2:08:08, the exact same time as Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Gudeta. What decided it was not the stopwatch, but the final stride.
In a dramatic dash to the line, the Tanzanian found one last burst, leaning through the tape to secure the 200,000 US dollar prize and cement back-to-back victories in Daegu.
It was a race built on patience, tactics and nerve. Early on, it was Geay’s compatriot Emmanuel Dinday who set the tone.
Dinday surged to the front by the fifth kilometre in 15:05, dictating the early rhythm as the field strung out behind him. At that stage, Geay was buried in 14th, biding his time, with Benard Geay a place further back. But marathons are not won in the opening exchanges.
By 10km, the Tanzanian charge had begun. Dinday moved into third, Gabriel Geay into fourth, while Benard Geay climbed into the top 10. The trio had positioned themselves, poised rather than panicked.
At 15km, Dinday led in 44:22, Geay a second behind. Eritrea’s Samson Hailemikael and Gudeta hovered close, the lead pack compressed and dangerous. Through halfway (58:43), four men were separated by two seconds.
The tension was already building. The decisive shift came after 30km. Gudeta struck first, taking the lead at 1:28:12. Dinday, who had animated much of the race, slipped out of the top five as the tempo sharpened. Then Geay made his move.
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At 35km, he surged to the front in 1:43:55, testing the field with a decisive injection of pace. Gudeta refused to yield, staying glued to his shoulder as the pair broke clear.
It was now a duel. By 40km, Geay still led (2:01:20), Gudeta shadowing every stride. Behind them, Dinday fought bravely but the gap proved too great to bridge.
The final stretch towards Daegu Stadium delivered pure theatre. Shoulder to shoulder, stride for stride, Geay and Gudeta launched into a desperate sprint. In a breathtaking finish, Geay edged ahead at the line, a fraction faster, a fraction stronger. History secured.
Dinday held on for an impressive third in 2:08:16, underlining Tanzania’s dominance, while Benard Geay placed 13th in 2:15:45 to cap a strong collective showing. Back-to-back titles.
Big prize money. Bigger statement. Gabriel Geay didn’t just defend his crown in Daegu, he proved he owns it.