2004-02-25
Kenyan Kaman wins2004 Standard Chartered Marathon
Gitte Karlshoj edges defending champion Sun Wei Wei in women's
race
Hong Kong, February 8, 2004:Kenyan runner Thomas Migwi Kaman
set his personal best mark of 2:17:17 to win the men's
open category in the 2004 Standard Chartered Marathon.In
the women's
open marathon
Danish runner Gitte Karlshoj beat defending champion Chinese
runner Sun Wei Wei with a time of 2:42:19.This year's Standard
Chartered Marathon, half-marathon and 10km race set a new
attendance record for the event attracting over 24,000
runners.
In the men's marathon, Kaman beat out his compatriot Elias
Chebet who finished in 2:18:04 and Chinese Taipei runner Chen
Wen Chiang who finished third with a time of 2:18:14.Kaman
paced his run perfectly, staying just off Kenyan Paul Kiptanui,
the leader for most of the race, through the 35km mark.He made
his move at the 40km mark and had the strength to hold it over
the final two kilometers to break the tape.A pleased Kaman
said that he was "quite surprised to win, as I was originally
hoping just to finish in the top five."He added that the "course
was a bit tough towards the end but that no course is too difficult
if you are well prepared."
In the women's marathon, the winner Gitte Karlshoj was also
surprised at her performance."Winning is more than I expected
because there are some very good runners here. I think the
weather was good for me because I am from Denmark and used
to running in the cold," said Karlshoj, who beat defending
champion Sun Wei Wei from China.Sun finished with a time of
2:42:47 while Russia's Tayana Zolotaryola finished nearly five
minutes off the pace in third with a time of 2:47:35.
The men's and women's open winners each received US$13,000
from the Marathon's US$65,300 prize purse, while the first
and second runners-up in the men's and women's open categories
received US$7,500 and US$4,000 respectively.Hong Kong's fastest
time in the men's and women's Marathons came from local runners
Lai Hok Yan at 2:35:42 and Lai Ka Wai who finished in 2:57:41.
A very unique pair of Kenyan runners also finished first and
second in the men's Half Marathon with blind runner Henry Wanyoike
Wahu and his guide Joseph KIBUNJA finishing together at 1:10:26.Japan's
Mimura Yoshio finished third with a time of 1:10:42.Wanyoike,
winner of 5000m at the Sydney Paralympics in 2000, and G'ang'a
have been running together for almost seven years.Next up for
Wanyoike is the Athens Paralympics this summer.
Top Hong Kong runner Christine Double won the women's open
Half Marathon in 1:23:11, followed by Sometani Mayu in second
on 1:23:57 and China's Rong Feng in third on 1:30:13.The men's
and women's 10km races were won by Weng Chu Yi of Chinese Taipei
in 33:03 and Leung Ying Suet in 40:24.
This year's Standard Chartered Marathon set a new attendance
record attracting over 24,000 runners.Standard Chartered Bank
is in its 8th year of sponsorship for the Marathon - other
sponsors include New Balance Athletic Shoes (Hong Kong) Limited,
Convey Advertising Company Limited, Hotel Miramar Hong Kong,
Watsons Water, Citizen Watches (HK) Limited, Yahoo! Holdings
(Hong Kong) Limited, Commercial Radio and supported by Hong
Kong Tourism Board, Information Services Department, Western
Harbour Tunnel Co. Ltd and Tsing Ma Management Limited.
~Ends~
Released on behalf of Standard Chartered Bank by Octagon Greater
China.
For more information please contact
Bessy Chan / Eleana Leung
Tel: 2534 5073 / 2534 5027
Fax: 2544 2522
Email: bessy.chan@octagon.com
eleana.leung@octagon.com
|
