Let's start off with the happy ending marathon stories...
Records tumble at the
Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon 2006
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It was a day of records for the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon. Both the men's and women's marathon winners set new finishing records and the whole event attracted a record field of more than 30,000 participants - just five years after the first race ran with a mere 5000 athletes.
Top runners took advantage of the cool weather as they powered past stiff opposition from a world-class field of runners to set new records in both the Men’s and Women’s Marathon. Kenyan Amos Tirop Matui raced to the wire against Ethiopia's Ashebir Demissu to finish in 2:14:59. In the women's race, Kenyan Salina Kosgei beat the women's record set last year by almost three minutes, to finish in 2:31:53.
Kenyan Amos Tirop Matui held off 1st runner-up Jote Ashebir Demissu of Ethopia in defense of his title, setting a new course record of 2:14:59 in the Men's Marathon. In a replay of 2005's dramatic finish, it was a race right to the wire as Matui again beat Ashebir to the coveted Men's Crown. Coming in behind the two was 2nd runner-up Abel Kirui, also from Kenya.
Amos Tirop Matui successfully defends his title in the Men's Category
2006 Women's winner, Salina Kosgei of Kenya, ran a wonderful race to dethrone defending champion Irina Timofeyeva. Both women bettered 2005's record, with the eventual champion Kosgei finishing in an amazing time of 2:31:53, almost 3mins faster than the Russian's previous record. Kenya Emily Kimuria rounded off the top three.
Salina Kosgei smashes previous record to win Women's Category
Elangovan s/o Ganesan made it a hat-trick of titles in the Singapore Men's category while local favourite Vivian Tang won the Singapore Women's title.
Well, the happy smiling pictures tell them all... no doubt about it...
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And the sad (& shameful) stories, fresh from Brunei was...
Brunei Marathon lost in translation
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The much-touted Brunei Marathon ran into stormy weather yesterday, churning some bad publicity along its route winding through Bandar Seri Begawan and the suburbs.
Even the winner of the women's full marathon of 42kms had this criticism to offer. "No proper direction was given for our routes," said an irate Marry Akor when she confided in the press.
While other runners in the 21km (half-marathon) were also frustrated for lack of proper signage, race marshals, muddle over the importance of electronic chips or face disqualification, face in their route, some participants ended up running more than 21 km because they strayed from their route which resulted in their times being off mark.
The prize presentation, which was estimated to take place at approximately 9:30am yesterday was delayed with technical difficulties as the judges' area and the secretariat area were swamped with runners dissatisfied with the overall organization, many of whom run marathons professionally at international levels, or as a profession.
Furthermore, it was not just the runners who were disappointed with the management of the marathon, Sheikh Jamaluddin Sheikh Mohamed, Director of Industrial Promotion and Tourism Development of the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources, who was present to witness the marathon yesterday, when asked on the matter of the 21-km muddle said, "I don't know what was going on, I myself am trying to find out, I'm disappointed, although this happens sometimes in other marathons, but we should be better."
Pg Sharifuddin bin Pg Haji Bakar, manager for Excellence Event Management the organizing company for 'Brunei Marathon 2006', told the Borneo Bulletin, "To my understanding, 'yes' there seems to be technical problems, to my awareness there will be a technical meeting later on today (yesterday). Apparently some runners were found to have gone off track, and are complaining. Official complaints will not be entertained unless formally submitted in writing, but we believe in fair play, we would not like to point the blame at anyone. But I cannot comment further, as there is an official jury board that will settle the dispute."
It was not all smiles for everyone, for some it was a major disappointment. For 21-year-old Sasha who resides in Kg. Lambak who participated in the 10km run, she was disappointed with the organizers, Said Sasha: "After coming in top ten in the 10 km run for the female category I was told by the organizers that I was disqualified because I didn't have my ChampionChip", a device designed to capture and record time of all runners electronically, accurately and efficiently, required to be used by runners in the serious categories.
Prior to the race, Sasha, amongst other runners, were given conflicting information, they were told that it was not compulsory to use it. "When we approached the organizer about the matter, instead of resolving the matter, they instantaneously blamed us." Despite her loss she added, "The marathon was good, it brought out a lot of people out to compete and it was fun but at the end it turned out bad as some runners got lost because they were not properly shown their routes, participants were not briefed very well." "When I crossed the finish line, I felt like I was in heaven," exclaimed 26-year-old Wilson Chepkwony winner in the Men's 42 km Brunei Marathon yesterday at the Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar Ali Saifuddin.
Meanwhile, there were others in high spirits. Wilson, who was here for his 2nd Brunei Marathon, last year came in third and decided to come back to grab the first place after suffering illness last year. This year, Wilson returned with a team of five Kenyans, 1 Tanzanian, 2 Moroccans and 1 Russian. Commenting on the course he says, "Although the course is tough it was better than last year. I will come back again next year." For 24-year-old Kipkosgei Bittok from Kenya who was runner-up in his first Brunei Marathon, he said he was interested to find out more about Brunei and yesterday ran his 4th race of the year.
To cheer up the marathon stories in their newspapers... (& cover up the ugly side of the stories)
3,000 took part in Brunei Marathon
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One of the most highly anticipated sporting events of the year hit our nation yesterday when the Brunei Marathon 2006 went into full swing despite the showers early in the day. Now in its second year, the Brunei Marathon once again attracted enthusiastic participation from both within and without the country; some 3,000 runners registered for the run, a 40 percent increase than in 2005, and easily making the marathon the biggest sporting event in Brunei this year.
Meanwhile, over 80 of the runners ran for the Standard Chartered Bank's "Seeing is Believing" fundraising initiative. The SCB, together with the event organiser Excellence Event Management, linked the Brunei Marathon to bank's "Seeing is Believing" fundraising initiative by inviting participants to run and raise money to help the visually impaired.
The money raised will go to the Brunei Darussalam National Association of the Blind (BDNAB), the Special Education Unit of the Ministry of Education, as well as the various "Seeing is Believing" initiatives. The B$300,000 Brunei Marathon was the richest marathon race in Asia.
The Full Marathon (42 km) was flagged off at exactly 6 am at the entrance to Taman Sir Omar Ali Saiffuddien, followed by 21 km half-marathon, 10 km marathon and the 5 km Fun Run at 10 minutes interval. Wilson Chepwonky came first in the Full Marathon open male category, in a time of 2hrs 30 mins and 44 secs. Second was Kipkosgei Bitok in 2.30:48, and third was Disdery Lucian (02:31:32). The Brunei finisher in the category was Sefli Ahar who finished 9th overall, in a time of 2.43:32. The open female Full Marathon winner was Marry Akor (2.45:21), followed Emyl Samoei (2.46:18) in second place and Susan Teimet (02:51:36) third. Tan Siew King was the best Brunei female runner, coming in at 4 hrs and 5 mins.
Marry Akor, the winner of women category of full marathon
The Full Marathon, Brunei male category was won by Sefli Ahar of course, with Chung Kwei Mingg (02:58:55), Shamsul Hj Saman (03:00:33), Zulkiflee Liman (03:11:17) and Mohammad Isa Ali (03:14:37) in second, third, fourth and fifth spots respectively.
Jenny Tan Feng Ling (04:29) was the runner-up in the Brunei open female Full Marathon category, Dk Hjh Salwana (04:43) third and Fatimah Hj Abu Bakar (04:45) and Norsaidah bte Hj Md Ali (04:49) fourth and fifth respectively.
Sefli Ahar, the best Brunei finisher in the Full Marathon, open male category in Brunei Marathon 2006, receives his prize. Sefli came in ninth in the open male category, but finished top in the Brunei male Full Marathon. The B$300,000 Brunei Marathon was the richest marathon race in Asia
Wilson Chepwonky (R) crosses the finish line at the end of the Full Marathon, open male category. Kipkosgei Bitok (L) was second
The top three runners in the Full Marathon, open male category
*** Another unpleasant news that's still outstanding as at NOW is.... they still haven't decided on the winners of the Half Marathon for ALL categories... & none have received their winning cheques... (you may ask one of our runners, S. Devamani, the Malaysian woman marathoner). Blame the organizer, they have brought shame to their own country.
Well, I hope that our Malaysian's marathon's organizer will take these as an example (& lessons to be learned) & not to take it easy when they're "dealing" with us, MARATHONERS!!!!!
:)
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