Ethiopia's Dera Dida out to retain her women’s Dubai Marathon crown

The reigning Dubai Marathon women's champion is back in the emirate for Saturday's event looking to both retain her title and secure a spot on the three-member Ethiopian national team heading for the Paris Olympics this summer. Dida, 27, kicked for home with around two kilometres to go to win last year's race at Expo City. GettyDida arrives after running a personal best of two hours, 19 minutes and 24 seconds at the Berlin Marathon last September. “It really doesn’t matter who gets picked for the three-member marathon squad but whoever makes it, I wish them success.”Deda is running her fourth Dubai Marathon since finishing seventh on her debut. “I can take a lot of positives from my last marathon by achieving a personal best time,” she said.