2003-12-30
Standard Chartered Marathon 2004
Breaks Record
HONG KONG, 21 Dec 2003 - To date, over 19,000 runners have
registered in the Standard Chartered Marathon 2004, surpassing
the entry record of 18,682 in 2003 event, while Hong Kong
Marathon Best Performer Belaye Wolashe of Ethiopia will
return to Hong Kong for the race to be held on Sunday 8
February 2004, aiming at renewing his own record 2:13:09
set in 1998.
Champion of the Standard Chartered New Airport Marathon 1998,
Wolashe competed in Hong Kong twice afterward.Failing to
defend his title, the Ethiopian managed to finish third in
1999; He also ran with his fellow countryman Gezahegne Abera,
2000 Sydney Olympics marathon gold-medalist in the Hong Kong
Half Marathon Championship earlier this year to win the runner-up
in a record-breaking time of 1:07:56.
Wolashe has a personal best of 2:10:57 and his recent victory
in the Euro-asia Istanbul Marathon (October 2003) encourages
him to set another record in Hong Kong.
Other contenders of the title and US$13,000 champion purse
include 2001 winner Dube Jillo (PB 2:11:05), also from Ethiopia,
and the runner-up in 2002 Johannes Maremane (PB 2:11:15) of
South Africa.Both runners will be competing in Hong Kong for
the third time that they will have better understanding of
race course and the climate of Hong Kong, which give them an
advantage of claiming the victory.
The Organizer confirmed 40 international runners from 20 countries
in the February race while local entries are as encouraging.Over
19,000 runners enrolled in the three races (marathon, half
marathon and 10km race) and broke Hong Kong's highest participation
record of 18,682 in advance of the entry deadline.The deadline
of entry is set on 8 January 2004 (three weeks to go!) and
the quota is 22,000.Interested parties are suggested to submit
their entry forms as soon as possible!
Local and international runners will assemble along Nathan
Road for the start from 6:45am onwards on Sunday 8 February
2004 to showcase "The Hong Kong Spirit, The Marathon Spirit" to
people in Hong Kong and around the world.
Entry forms are available at the HKAAA office and all branches
of Standard Chartered Bank in Hong Kong.On-line registration
is also available.The entry fee is HK$320 from now until 8
January 2004 and $420 for last-minute entry at the Marathon
Expo.For more information, please visit the official website
www.hkmarathon.com or call the official hotline 25770800.
Standard Chartered Bank is in its 8th year of sponsorship
for the Marathon - other sponsors and supporting agencies include
New Balance Athletic Shoes (Hong Kong) Limited, Convey Advertising
Company Limited, Hotel Miramar Hong Kong, Watsons Water, Citizen
Watches (HK) Limited, Mercedes Benz, Yahoo! Holdings (Hong
Kong) Limited, Fitness First Health Clubs, Commercial Radio,
Hong Kong Tourism Board, Information Services Department, Western
Harbour Tunnel Co. Ltd and Tsing Ma Management Limited.
~Ends~
For more information please contact
Octagon Greater China
Bessy Chan / Eleana Leung
Tel: 25980787
Fax: 25442522
Email: bessy.chan@octagon.com
eleana.leung@octagon.com |
