News05 Dec 2010


Mungara and Kosgei prevail at Singapore Marathon

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Irene Jerotich Kosgei takes the 2010 Singapore Marathon title (© Singapore Marathon organisers)

Running in warm and humid conditions, Kenneth Mungara and Irene Jerotich Kosgei took home the champions titles at the Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore 2010, an IAAF Silver Label Road Race, on Sunday (5).

Mungara, the winner of the Scotiabank Toronto Marathon in September,  was the first to reach the line clocking 2:14.06. It was a close finish as Thomas Cherogony and Vincent Krop followed shortly behind in 2:14.32 and 2:14.57 respectively.

"The Singapore race is good and enjoyable but also very hot,” said Mungara, who took home a US $50,000 first place prize. “I broke away at the 30 km mark and I knew that if I maintained my pace, I would win.

“I tried to clock a good time but it was difficult as the first half of the race was quite slow but I'm happy with the win. The prize money is not just for me but for my entire family."

It was also a close contest in the women’s race, which saw Kosgei, the recently crowed Commonwealth Games Marathon champion, take the title in 2:35:22, just nine seconds ahead of Ethiopian Ayelu Lemma Geda who finished with a time of 2:35:31.

Annerien van Schalkwyk completed the top three with a time of 02:35.32.

“I can say the race is really nice although it was a little bit humid,” said Kosgei, who also bagged a $US 50,000 prize. “The course is very, very stable. I have no problems with my run. However, I couldn’t run under 2:29.00 because of the weather.”

Competing in three events, a record-breaking 60,000 runners took to the streets. Flagged off from three different start points, runners found themselves pounding through some of Singapore’s key iconic landmarks, which included Orchard Road, Chinatown, Sentosa, Universal Studios Singapore, Marina Bay Sands and the Singapore Flyer.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. George Yeo was the Guest of Honour for the Marathon, which was flagged off at 5.00am at Orchard Road for the first time. 20,000 runners passed under a flood of Christmas lights. Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, flagged off the Half-Marathon at 6.30 am where 15,000 runners started the race at the Sentosa Gateway, bringing them through the island of Sentosa and amidst the sights and sounds of Universal Studios Singapore. The 10 KM Run was flagged off at 7.45am by Mr Seah Kian Peng, Member of Parliament for Marine Parade GRC, on the Esplanade Bridge, where 20,000 runners began their race.

Organisers for the IAAF
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