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2003 Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon Results
The Kenyan colonisation of the athletics world continues. John Kelai won in
his 'home town' yesterday, when he took the Standard Chartered Singapore
Marathon in 2hr 19min 02sec.
Kelai has been living on and off in Singapore for the last 18 months since
coming to the city-state to make his marathon debut - he was seventh in
last year's race in 2.23.46.
Kelai tracked several of his Kenyan compatriots, who were early leaders in
the Sunday dawn race, before taking over after 37 kilometres, and winning
by 180 metres from David Simukwo, 2.19.28, and Barnabas Kenduiywo, 2.20.35.
"At 32 kilometres, I felt so bad that I almost dropped out," said Kelai,
26, "but I saw the leaders were struggling. At 35k I felt OK, and put in an
effort to catch them. I was a bit nervous of my Kenyan friends, but it was
an advantage to me to know the course so well".
Unlike several of his compatriots who have switched nationality recently,
Kelai says he has no plans to apply for Singapore nationality, but he has a
solid training base here with a triathlon group, and he recently placed
fourth in a high class duathlon (cycling and running) Kelai dedicated the
victory to his month old daughter, Karina. He has another daughter, Faith,
aged three. Kelai said he would use the US$20,000 prize money, "for the
education of my children, and to improve my living conditions in Kenya". He
was formerly a farm-worker in Eldoret, the heartland of Kenyan distance
running.
The much-vaunted Tanzanians - 2002 Commonwealth winner, Francis Naali, and
1998 medallists, Simon Mrashani and Geway Suja - were never in evidence,
after complaining of difficulties adjusting to time difference and
Singapore's high humidity which affects times.
Wang Yu of China was unconcerned in the women's race. The 19 year old from
Beijing led all the way in only her third marathon, to win in 2.43.51. The
Poles, Aniela Nikiel and Violeta Uryga were second and third, in 2.46.48
and 2.47.55 respectively.
STANDARD CHARTERED SINGAPORE MARATHON 2003
RESULTS
MEN
BIB NAME COUNTRY TIME PRIZE(US$)
1 84 JOHN KELAI KENYA 2.19.02 20,000
2 08 DAVID SIMUKWO KEN 2.19.28 12,000
3 10 BARNABAS KENDUIYWO (KEN) 2.20.35 7,000
4 46 ANURUDHA COORAY (SRI) 2.21.23 5,000
5 73 ABRAHAM TANDOI KEN 2.23.29 3,000
6 15 JOSEPHAT NDETI KEN 2.24.26 1,250
7 59 DAVID K MENJO KEN 2.24.47 1,250
8 70 SIMON SAWE KEN 2.25.42 800
9 50 ZHU RONGHUA CHINA 2.25.44 800
10 07 JOHN ROTICH KEN 2.26.32 800
WOMEN
1 67 WANG YU CHINA 2.43.57 20,000
2 20 ANIELA NIKIEL POL 2.46.48 12,000
3 18 VIOLETA URYGA POL 2.47.55 7,000
4 63 AI SUGIHARA JAP 2.48.14 5,000
5 21 NATALYA GALUSHKO BLS 2.52.45 3,000
6 26 LILIAN CHELIMO KEN 2.53.59 1,250
7 28 LARISSA MALIKOVA RUS 2.55.05 1,250
8 24 OLPHER ORUKE KEN 2.55.46 800
9 09 SUJEEWA NILMINI SRI 2.56.46 800
10 19 LYDIA VASSIELVSKAYA RUS 3.01.48 800
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