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29 March 2024

Americans at the top in Dubai Fitness Championships

Published
By Staff

Americans Kenneth Leverich and Lindsey Valenzuela remained at the top of the leaderboard in qualifying at the 2nd Dubai Fitness Championships being held at Fitness First Dubai.

Leverich is at the top of the men’s category with a time of 11 minutes, 17.44 seconds while Valenzuela is the undisputed leader in the women’s competition in a time of 12:07.13 minutes.

In the men’s section, Leverich is being followed by the UAE’s Khalifa Al Qubaisi after his second attempt gave him a time of 11:22.81 while former leader Hallvard Borsheim from Norway is in third following a second attempt that gave him a time of 11:22.94.

With the UAE’s Khalifa Al Qubaisi firmly in second, a host of other Emirati competitors have made progress in this competition. Mahmood Shalan is in 13th place followed by Marwan Al Marri in 16th, Mohammed Al Ketbi in 20th and Mohammed Al Ameri in 33rd.

In the women’s competition, Valenzuela is followed by the United Kingdom's Leanne Gerrish in second place with a time of 12:18.06, while Marlene Andersson representing Kuwait is third with a time of 12:22.19.

Annie Thorisdottir of Iceland is in fourth and the UK's Charlotte Mathers, who was third vernight, slipped into fifth.

Inger Larsen and Hallvard Borsheim had pulled themselves to the top of standings in the women’s and men’s categories respectively at the end of the third week of qualifiers last weekend.

The qualifying rounds of the championship concluded at midnight on September 8, leading up to the finals scheduled to be held at a specially set-up circuit on the ice rink at The Dubai Mall from September 12 to 14.

As per the running order for the finals to be held from September 12 to 14, the first day will have three sessions from 10.15 am to 12.45 pm; from 1 to 4 pm and 5 to 11 pm.

On the second day, action will shift to the Al Wasl Club swimming pool with the female category competition worked out from 7.50 to 9.30 am, while the men’s swimming will be held from 10.30 am to 12.10 pm.

There will be an additional two sessions in the evening with the first one from 1 to 3.30 pm and the second one from 4.30 to 10.30 pm.

The competition will conclude on the third day with a start at 4 pm and the prize awarding ceremony at 10.30 pm.

Held under the patronage of Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, the championship is aimed at raising the awareness on the importance of exercise and health, while promoting fitness among UAE residents, especially among Emiratis.

This year, the number of qualifiers for the finals will be 36 each in the male and female categories with the winners in each category walking away with Dh200,000 from the total prize fund of nearly Dh1 million.

Telephone operator du is the main sponsor while Dubai Sports Council is the official partner of the event. Further information about the championships can be obtained at www.dxbfitness.com.