Dubai International Academy student and Ultimate Athletics ace Ingrid Feliza Fuglestad topped the overall charts in 5K Run in stage one of the Dubai Women’s Running Challenge.
More than 300 enthusiasts were attracted to Dubai Safari Park on a foggy Saturday morning to take part in the first leg of the run, open to participants of all ages.
In the 5km Run, Ingrid was fastest with a time of 22:38, finishing 17 seconds ahead of Egypt’s Joud Dabous (22:55), while Louise MacGregor (24:37) of the UK came in third.
Safa Community School student Nouf Al Balooshi topped the 10-14 age group with Cillian York and Tia Watson putting their best foot forward in the youth age groups.
“We are so excited to have run this race in the Dubai Safari Park,” said Elizabeth Manrique, who took part with her daughter Lucia Ferris Manrique. “I have just done the 5km and Lucia has done the 2.5km. The race is absolutely fantastic. We saw lions, we saw elephants, and we saw hyenas. We absolutely loved it.”
“The next stage of the Challenge will take place on January 23 at another unique location, the Palm Jumeirah. Stage 3 willl be a night race starting at 9pm, taking the ladies to Dubai Garden Glow on January 28.
The Challenge will then wind up on February 6 at Al Seef, allowing participants to soak in the atmosphere in what is the cultural and historic district of Dubai.
Age 15-17: 1-Tia Watson (UK) 16:18; 2-Sadaf Abdullah Abdul Qadir (India) 34:02.
Age 10-14: 1-Nouf Al Balooshi (USA) 14:45; 2-Emaan Muhammad (Pakistan) 18:28; 3-Salama Aldarmaki (UAE) 21:00.
Age 5-9: 1-Cillian York (South Africa) 14:17; 2-Maggie Parkin (UK) 14:19; 3-Lucia Ferris Manrique (UK) 16:26.