**High res images can be viewed/downloaded HERE and B-roll footage is available upon request. Please credit XDubai.**
● Maria Jankowska conquers 13+ Km Spartan Super Elite in 1 hour 21 mins to clinch top spot in Women’s race
● Spartan Arabia donates a percentage from proceeds to Al Jalila Foundation in partnership with Brest Friends
● Held during the second annual Dubai Fitness Challenge, the race brought together elite athletes, first-timers as well as young Spartans
Dubai, United Arab Emirates; 27 October 2018: The Jebel Ali Race Course was a showcase of she-power this morning as the XDubai Spartan Women’s Race returned to the emirate for the region’s second staging of the women’s only event. Approximately 2,000 Spartan women competed at Jebel Ali Race Course across two challenging race lengths – a 5+ Km Sprint, and a 13+ Km Super – while a Spartan Kid’s Race kept both girls and boys, between the ages of 4 and 14 motivated on the first weekend of the Dubai Fitness Challenge (DFC) (26 Oct-24 Nov).
Organised by Spartan Arabia together with the action sports brand XDubai, and supporting partner Dubai Sports Council, the race featured Elite, Age-Group and Open categories across the two key race lengths. The top honours went to Maria Jankowska from Poland, who clocked in a time of 1:21:34 (hh:mm:ss) in the Elite Spartan Super category and XDubai Athlete Angelique Chetaneau from France, who completed the Elite Spartan Sprint in 49:56 (mm:ss).
In addition to awarding the winners, Spartan Arabia also pledged a percentage of the proceeds from the event to the Al Jalila Foundation in partnership with Brest Friends, to mark Breast Cancer Awareness month. Funds donated will be used to support breast cancer patients and fund ongoing research.
The race also saw Spartan Global Brand Ambassadors and XDubai sponsored athletes Angelique Chetaneau, Barbara Company Espejo, Ivana Kolaric and Carolina Gutierrez competing across the Spartan Super and Sprint races.
“Today’s participants gave us a masterclass in grit, drive and teamwork. From elite athletes to the next generation of Spartans, they powered through obstacles and rugged terrain together to take home the coveted finisher medal,” said Mohammed Javad, General Manager of XDubai. “The XDubai Spartan Women’s Race brought to life our mission in this region – to support local athletes, promote grassroots sports and champion a healthy lifestyle.”
“This was my best win ever – the most exciting one, the toughest one. I enjoyed myself so much and I pushed myself because I wanted it,” Elite Spartan Super winner Maria Jankowska said. “I think once you start being a Spartan, your life will change. You are much fitter and more confident and it will enable you to achieve beyond the fitness arena as it affects all aspects of your life.”
In addition to the XDubai Spartan Women’s Race, XDubai will be running other sporting events which fall within the Dubai Fitness Challenge including the XDubai Spartan Race presented by Dubai Holding in Hatta (16th November), the X3 JR Triathlon (23rd November), and XYoga’s Sundown Breath (24th November).
