USD 1.08 MILLION UP FOR GRABS AS THE LAST LEG OF STANDARD CHARTERED’S GREATEST RACE ON EARTH 2007/08 SERIES DRAWS NEAR
Vietnam approaches top position in Southeast Asia region in Standard Chartered’s Greatest Race on Earth
Hanoi, February 14, 2008 – Vietnam is currently leading the chart for Southeast Asia region in Standard Chartered’s Greatest Race on Earth, with 13 minutes separating from second position, Thailand. The final leg, which will be held in Hong Kong on February 17, 2008, is expected to be a tough competition for Vietnam National Team in maintaining the first position in Southeast Asia as Thailand will present one of its best runners in this year’s GROE, expected to overthrow Vietnam for the ever-highest prize money of US$40,000.
Hanoi-based long distance runner Bui Van Toan, is heading to Hong Kong this Friday (February 15, 2008) to take part in the final leg of Standard Chartered’s Greatest Race on Earth (GROE) in Hong Kong. Having participated in the 2005/2006 series and especially the Hong Kong leg of the 2006/2007 series, Toan is expected to leverage on his international experience to battle Thai runner, Boonchoo Jandacha, in order to achieve Vietnam’s first position in the region.
As the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon approaches on 17 February 2008, the destination of the USD 1.08 million Greatest Race on Earth prize money still hangs in the balance. The stunning setting in Hong Kong will provide a fitting finale to what has already been a highly successful and exciting series.
53 top athletes from 33 countries will gather in Hong Kong to run for their country and their team in this fourth and final leg of the Greatest Race on Earth, in the hope of securing a slice of the biggest prize pool in world athletics. Athletes are not just competing for prize money, but for the right to hold aloft the GROE trophy, a 9 carat, 300 gram solid Gold Baton, symbolic of the teamwork required to win the competition, and a reflection of the high standards that GROE runners set in each marathon. Men’s and Women’s Nations Challenge teams consist of four athletes who each compete in one of four challenging marathons worldwide, working together to achieve the fastest possible cumulative time.
Going into the final leg, the competition for first place and the lion’s share of the prize money remains incredibly tight in both the Men’s and Women’s contests. After an exhilarating run by John Kelai in Mumbai, Kenya B remain top of the Men’s Nations Challenge with an impressive cumulative team time of 06:51:13 from the first three marathons of the series. Currently in second place with an overall time thus far of 07:00:18, Kenya A are breathing down their neck, and will be looking for a good performance in Hong Kong to overturn the 9 minutes 5 seconds currently separating the top two.
National teams not only compete for the top spot in the Men’s Nations Challenge and Women’s Nations Challenge, but also for a top three place in their Regional category. The six regions – Europe & Oceania, Africa, North East Asia, South East Asia, South Asia & Middle East, and the Americas – each have their own separate prize fund, giving every team something to run for.
Regionally in the Men’s Nations Challenge competition, results are tight in the South Asia & Middle-East Region where India are leading the table with a cumulative time of 07:23:13. Second place Sri Lanka are just 2 minutes 28 seconds off the pace and could easily push to overtake India in Hong Kong.
In the African Region, as in the Men’s overall Challenge, Kenya B are heading up the table, closely followed by compatriots Kenya A. Uganda are currently in third place, 10 minutes 20
seconds behind Kenya A. Battling hard for a podium finish are Zimbabwe who are a mere 1 minute 37 seconds off Uganda’s time.
In the Americas Region, after some consistently fast finishes, Peru have amassed a table-topping team time of 07:32:26. Brazil pose the greatest threat to the regional leaders, 12 minutes and 1 second behind their neighbours. Argentina could look to also improve their position; they are presently placed third, just 6 minutes 53 seconds behind Brazil.
In the Women’s Nations Challenge, a sensational personal best performance in Mumbai by Irene Kemunto Mogaka of Kenya B has lifted her team into top spot, with a cumulative time of 08:08:00. 9 minutes and 3 seconds behind are Kenya A who will do their utmost in Hong Kong to overtake Kenya B into first place and win the prize money.
Topping the North East Asia Region with a buffer of over 45 minutes between them and their nearest rival, China will be looking to Feng Xia Yang to repeat her 2007 Mumbai marathon-winning success in Hong Kong this year to maintain her team’s prize-winning position.
Ten of the GROE male competitors lining-up in Hong Kong are able to boast personal best (PB) times of under 2 hours 20 minutes. Athletes to look out for include Jose Luis Luna of Argentina (PB 2:18:21), Vincent Kiptoo Kiplagat of Kenya A (PB 2:10:44), Miguel Ichavarria of Peru (PB 2:11:36) and Leonid Shvetsov of Russia (PB 2:09:16).
Shevtsov said:
“For me it is all about teamwork. My team-mates' successful performances have inspired me to follow their path and do my best in Hong Kong. My team-mates and I aim to win our regional division and hopefully come in the top 6 overall.”
The Hong Kong leg of the Women’s Nations Challenge also looks set to be closely contested with six GROE runners having clocked under 2 hours 45 minutes in their recent careers. Athletes to watch out for include: Anne Jepkemboi Kosgei of Kenya B (PB 2:28:28), Fabiola
William John of Tanzania (PB 2:34:15), Feng Xia Yang of China (PB 2:36:16) and Elizabeth Esteves De Souza of Brazil (PB 2:40:00).
Fabiola William John said:
“I hope to win the Marathon and win the Gold Baton with my team. Success in The Greatest Race on Earth will open another chapter for me by increasing my profile in international competitions.”
“The pressure is definitely there when competing in the final leg to maintain the first position of Vietnam in Southeast Asia. However, such good performances of my teammates in the first three legs have created a great driving force for me in this decisive leg. With my experience and hard-training, I’m hoping to set a new personal best time in Hong Kong and bring the victory to Vietnam.” said Toan.
Vietnam has always remained the first position in Southeast Asia region during the first 3 legs of Standard Chartered’s GROE 2007/08 series, and is poised to repeat its best result in GROE’s first season of 2004/2005, when the Vietnam team ranked first in the overall standings of the region.
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