Singapore Marathon - Torrid Times in Heat & Himidity
Constantina Tomescu-Dita ran three minutes faster than any woman marathoner previously in Singapore, and Joseph Riri won his third marathon in four starts

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Posted Sunday, 8 December, 2002

NEWS RELEASE/NEWS RELEASE/NEWS RELEASE/NEW

Singapore, sun, dec 8, 05.00gmt

TORRID TIMES

Constantina Tomescu-Dita ran three minutes faster than any woman marathoner previously in Singapore, and Joseph Riri won his third marathon in four starts, but times were academic in 30 degree plus temperatures with high humidity for the 13th running of the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon.

The new course is one of the most beautiful in the world, shaded by trees and fringing the East Coast Parkway for much of the way, but the torrid conditions kept Romanian, Tomescu-Dita's time down to 2hr 36min 06sec, with training partner Aurica Buia second in 2.40.53, while a third East European, Violeta Uryga of Poland, having her third marathon in three months, finished third in 2.45.31.

There was an Eastern flavour in the men's race too, East African naturally, with only Makhosonke Fika of South Africa preventing a Kenyan sweep of the top six places. Fika had promised to give the Kenyans a run for their money - US$15,000 for first place - and he ran a cautious first half. "I decided to wait and see what happened, and when Riri took the lead, I went with him, but I was tired and cramping at 38 kilometres, and had to let him go".
Riri powered ahead to win by over a minute in 2.18.46, with Fika on 2.19.54, and Riri's training partner, Julius Kimtai third in 2.20.45. Riri, who had wins in Belfast and Mount Meru (Tanzania) last year, with a best of 2.12.10 for third in Verona in May, said, "I didn't realise I could win until 38k, but I'm not used to running in such heat. My ambition now is to run 2.09".

Former Olympian Mark Coogan tried to kid himself that he'd got one more marathon left in those mid-thirties' legs, but the conditions in Singapore for the Standard Chartered Marathon on Sunday morning soon disabused him of that notion.

New Englander Coogan, who competed in the Atlanta Games for the US, got back into marathon training in summer with Irishman Mark Carroll who had a successful debut for eighth in the New York City Marathon last month.

Hard running in temperate North Eastern conditions this Fall persuaded Coogan to accept an offer to run Singapore, but despite a new flat, shady course along the coast, and a dawn start, the temperature rising into the eighties with 80% plus humidity took an immediate toll.

"That's the hardest marathon I've ever done, and my worst marathon by far. I've run a dozen marathons, and never had to walk before, I've never seen so many top class people walking. At three miles, I was already soaking wet, I never thought I'd 'die', but I did, my body is a wreck".

It's an unfortunate finale to Coogan's marathon career, but no disgrace. He might have finished 25th in 2.45.08, but at 20 miles he caught 20 year old Chinese star, Li Zhu Hong, who has run 2.10.48, and recently won the prestigious Beijing marathon. Unfortunately they were also caught and passed by women's winner, Constantina Tomescu-Dita of Romania, who went on to win in 2.36.06sec. The men's race was won by Kenyan Joseph Riri, in 2.18.46. Riri said, "I didn't realise I could win until 38k (24 miles), I want to run next in LA in March, I think I can run 2.09 now".

Coogan agreed, "That's entirely possible. In these conditions that's worth a top five, top six place in Chicago. And Dita was excellent, she said, 'Hello Mark,' as she passed me. I was too tired to reply".
ends

Further info: (65) 6337 0643; (65) 6826 8020/UK mobile 07900 243460

RESULTS - STANDARD CHARTERED SINGAPORE MARATHON

MEN

POS NAME COUNTRY TIME PRIZE(US)
1 JOSEPH RIRI KENYA 2.18.46 $15,000
2 MAKHOSONKE FIKA SAFR 2.19.54 $10,000
3 JULIUS KIMTAI KENYA 2.20.45 $7,000
4 JOSEPHAT NDETI KENYA 2.21.04 $5,000
5 DAVID SIMUKWO KENYA 2.21.12 $3,500
6 SAMUEL OKEMWA KENYA 2.21.22 $2,500
7 JOHN KELAI KENYA 2.23.46 $2,000
8 JILO DUBE ETHIOPIA 2.23.59 $1,750
9 ANURADHA COORAY SRI LANKA 2.24.04 $1,500
10 HILARY LELEI KENYA 2.24.39 $1,250

WOMEN

1 CONSTANTINA TOMESCU-DITA(ROM) 2.36.06 $15,000
2 AURICA BUIA ROMANIA 2.40.53 $10,000
3 VIOLETA URYGA POLAND 2.45.31 $7,000
4 FERRY SUBNAFEU INDONESIA 2.46.17 $5,000
5 PA PA MYANMAR 2.50.39 $3,500
6 NATALIA GALUSHKO BELARUS 2.51.57 $2,500
7 EMILY SAMOIE KENYA 2.53.01 $2,000
8 HELLEN KIMAIYO KENYA 2.53.06 $1,750
9 WANG LINAN CHINA 2.53.58 $1,500
10 LEDISHAH BIWOTT KENYA 2.55.12 $1,250

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