Previews01 Dec 2006


Humidity set to play crucial role, as Timofeyeva and Matui prepare to defend in Singapore - PREVIEW

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Irina Timofeyeva (RUS) wins the 2005 Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon (© Martin Tan/Martin T Photography)

Singaporestate of Singapore has long been the Boomtown of South-East Asia, and the latest edition of the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon on Sunday, 3 December, will only enhance that reputation.

The event has captured the imagination of this whole area of Asia, such that the 21,000+ runners in the marathon, half-marathon and 10k events last year has increased by 30% to over 31,000 this weekend.

Almost 10,000 of those will run the full marathon (up by 3000 from last year), and the field at the sharp end makes the men’s and women’s course records from last year look in jeopardy. Everybody knows that the heat and humidity here militate against superfast times, but the presence of no fewer than four sub-2:08 men, and five sub-2:26 women suggest that last year’s winners, Amos Matui of Kenya and Irina Timofeyeva of Russia will have their work cut out to repeat their victories.

Women’s race

Salina Kosgei of Kenya is the form athlete overall. A former 800 metres runner, the 29-year-old Kenyan has graduated so successfully through the distances that she won the Commonwealth Games 10,000 metres gold in 2002, and finished second in the prestigious Berlin Marathon just three months ago. She has also won the Paris and Prague marathons in the last two years, and finished fourth in New York, and eighth in London earlier this year.

But Timofeyeva will not relinquish the women’s crown lightly. The 36-year-old Russian says it’s a big advantage to have run here before, and cites the difference between her personal best of 2:25:29, in winning Tokyo 2001, and her course record last year of 2:34:42. “It’s very difficult conditions here, you cannot run really fast times. I didn’t lead in the early stages last year, and it paid off at the end. It’s definitely an advantage when you know what to expect.”

The other women vying for the $25,000 first prize are Dai Yan Yan of China (best of 2:24:18 in Beijing ’01), who has won both the Hong Kong and Macau Marathons; and Banuelia Kateswiga of Tanzania, who won Madrid six months ago, and has run 2:24:59.

Men’s race
 
Mohammed Ouaadi of France concurs with Timofeyeva's statement about the importance of having experience of the conditions. A three-time French record holder, culminating with his 2:07:55 in Fukuoka ’99, the Moroccan born Ouaadi says he was shocked by the level of humidity when he arrived here earlier this week. “I knew it would be humid,” said the 37 year old, who lives in Marseille on the Mediterranean coast of France. “But I didn’t expect it to be like this. It’s impossible to make predictions in such conditions. I’ll take my cue from the runners who’ve been here before. I’ll follow them, and just see what happens”.
 
Other leading men’s entries are Berlin ’02 winner, Joseph Ngolepus, who has a best of 2:07:52, and also has the advantage of having run here last year, when he finished third; and his Kenyan colleague, Simon Bor, who has run 2:07:56. But Ashebier Demissu, who was a close second last year says he is confident of doing better. “I started my finishing run too early last year,” said Demissu who hails from Arsi Province in Ethiopia, the same as national hero, Haile Gebrselassie. “I won’t make the same mistake again this year”.
 
Matui of Kenya, who won in 2:15:57 last year will again be a contender for the $25,000 first prize.

Pat Butcher for the IAAF

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