FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Hong Kong Marathon Sunday
Rumours of the third sighting of snow in 60 years in Hong Kong were
dismissed by the meteorological society today (Friday), but the coolest
weather in almost 20 years, well below 10C (50F) on Thursday, means that
runners in the Standard Chartered Hong Marathon on Sunday could have their
most temperate weather since the race was re-launched, in 1997. Given that
the race had to be abandoned after three hours, due to a heatwave a half
dozen years ago, these are the best prospects of fast times for the elite,
and an easier ride for the 70,000 plus competitors over all the day's
events in South-East Asia's biggest running festival.
The weather might be changeable, but the likelihood of victory for someone
other than a Kenyan or Ethiopian is as remote as that rumoured snowfall.
Misiker Mekonnin Demissie of Ethiopia is going for her third consecutive
victory here, while Julius Maisei of Kenya has a somewhat harder task of
defending the title he won last year.
Mekonnin has lived in the USA for the past half dozen years, but after a
brief flirtation with Bahrein, when she was known as Teyba Naser, switched
back to her native affiliation, and in that guise has won the women's race
here for the last two years. She also set the women's course record of
2.30.12 on one of the less humid days in Hong Kong, two years ago. Her
principal opponents will be Kenya's Emily Chepkemoi, who won Barcelona
2012, in 2.26.52, and Honolulu winner that same year, Woynishet Girma of
Ethiopia, whose best is 2.27.51.
The men's field looks to be more competitive, pitching a trio of Kenyans -
near veteran Mariko Kiplagat Kipchumba, last year's winner Julius Maisei,
and David Barmasai - against Ethiopian Teferi Kebede Balcha.
Maisei's victory last year was a triumph for tenacity. He has finished
second and fourth (both in photo-finishes) in the two previous years; and
his experience of this far from easy course will work in his favour against
the course debutants.
Barmasai had a huge impact in his first race outside Kenya, winning the
Dubai Marathon three years ago, in 2.07.18. That earned him national
selection for that year's IAAF World Championships, where he finished
fifth. But he has been struggling with a knee injury since then, and is
looking to reestablish himself among the elite on Sunday.
Kipchumba is both the oldest and fastest man in the field. Thirty nine this
year, and with a 2.06.05 victory in Reims 18 months ago, he continues to
run well, as evidenced by his win in Xiamen (just up the mainland coast
from here) six weeks ago, in 2.08.03.
Balcha is the only Ethiopian contender, with his 2.07.35 from Tiberias two
years ago, but the Kenyan born French Foreign Legionnaire Patrick Tambe
Ngoie (2.07.30), and Willy Kibor of Kenya (2.08.32) should also feature.
Hong Kong heads up a burgeoning marathon circuit throughout China, with its
overall $300,000 prize money, and a handsome $65,000 going to the two
winners.
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