Posted: December 6, 2005

Athletics: Kenya’s Amos Matui sets new record in The Greatest Race on Earth in Singapore

London - Kenyan Amos Matui set a new record on Sunday in the second leg of the US$1.575 million Standard Chartered Greatest Race on Earth 2005/06 Series in Singapore, with a finishing time of 2:15:55.

Hot on his heels was Ethiopian Jote Ashebir Demissu, who clocked 2:15:58, followed by Joseph Ngolepus of Kenya, at 2:16:34.

These three elite runners also emerged the fastest against other world-class challengers in the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon, which attracted participants from about 40 countries.

Said Amos, who broke last year's record of 2:17:02, of his new record feat: "It was a fast group. I broke the Singapore record because of the teamwork of the group. I have run for my team, for my country and for myself individually and we all benefit from my run."

The Singapore win takes his Global Mbio team, into second place in the Main Team Challenge.

In the Women's Team Challenge, Hellena Cherono, of Kenya, took second overall in the women's Singapore Marathon with a time of 2:35:12, moving her team into first place, while Chinese prodigy Wang Xiaoshu kept the Team China ladies team in contention with a time of 2:46:54.

An exhausted but pleased Hellena said: "It was a very competitive race. I am glad I improved my time, and hope my teammates can improve on it as well."

In the Individual Challenge, Kenya’s Emmanuel Kosgel moved himself into the lead with an impressive time of 2:16:49, which is a quantum leap over his 2:19:33 in Nairobi just over a month ago. This puts Emmanuel now three minutes ahead of closest rival Meshack Kirwa, and seven minutes ahead of third placed Joseph Kahugu.

Leading the way overall in the Main Team Challenge is BMMAC (A), whose athlete Victor Mangusho Robert, of Kenya completed the race in 2:17:29, while in third place is Kapsabet-Gianni with an effort of 2:21:12 from Patrick Chumba, also from Kenya.

More than 150 elite runners from 35 different countries ran in Singapore as part of The Greatest Race on Earth, which has been billed the "World Cup of Marathon Running". The high profile line-up in this series has clearly raised the bar, as evident in the faster times clocked in both races so far, compared to last year when the event was launched.

The Singapore leg in the Standard Chartered Greatest Race on Earth 2005/06 Series took place alongside the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon, which attracted a record 21,000 runners, 40% per cent more than last year's. This year's Greatest Race kicked off in Nairobi in October and moves on next to Mumbai and Hong Kong early next year.

After the flag-off by Singapore's Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean at the Esplanade Bridge, the GROE runners wound their way through the scenic Civic and Business Districts, braving the tropical heat and humidity, cheered on by tens of thousands of spectators who had given up their Sunday morning to catch the world's marathon stars in action.

Clearly taking a beating from the scorching weather, Richard Gleisner, of the Australian national team, who finished second in the Europe vs Oceania regional challenge, groaned: "It was humid. You weren't breathing the air so much as drinking it. Being part of the team kept me in the race. I was tempted to quit by when you are wearing the green and gold you just can't pull out."

UK leads the Europe & Oceania ahead of traditional rivals Australia following a great run by Mark Dalkins in 2:44:31.

In the overall Nations Challenge, Zimbabwe has taken over the lead from rivals Kenya and heads into the next leg in Mumbai with a lead of 1 minute 49 seconds and these two begin to pull away from the field.

In the South East Asia regional challenge, Indonesia maintains its lead ahead of Philippines while Singapore has been displaced in the top three by Thailand.

In the South Asia regional challenge, India stays ahead of Pakistan and Bangladesh. But Mavi Surender Singh Kumar, of the Indian national team, said "it was a bad race and a bad time for me. I hope my team will do better in Mumbai," he added.

In the North East Asia challenge, an excellent run by Mo Wai Shin for Hong Kong took his team above South Korea, but they remain some 15 minutes behind Taiwan.

The Greatest Race also promotes "Seeing is Believing", through which Standard Chartered has committed to raise US$6 million before the end of 2006. This money will help restore the sight of one million people in developing nations with visual impairment. In this spirit, two visually-impaired teams, from Taiwan and South Korea, took part in and finished the race.

Results of Greatest Race on Earth in Singapore

Main Team Challenge (open to all teams)

1.      Robert Mangusho Victor  BMMAC (A)       04:36:09       
2       Amos Matui      Global Mbio     04:36:37       
3.      Patrick Chumba  Kapsabet - Gianni       04:37:08       
4.      Moses Kemei     Kensky 1        04:38:15       
5.      Matthew Birir   Global Sports Comms     04:39:08       
6.      Jote Ashebir Demissu    Akaki - Gianni  04:39:17       
7.      Josphat Kipchoge Rop    The Vikings     04:39:51       
8.      Francis Kiprop  BMMAC (C)       04:40:45       
9.      Oliver Kandiero Zimbabwe        04:42:09       
10.     Ekiro Kelai     Gower   04:42:19       

Bonus Pool for Women’s Team

Position        Singapore Runner        Nationality     Cumulative Time (hrs:min:sec)  
1.      Rose Kerubo     Kenya   05:29:15       
2       Hellena Cherono Kenya   05:34:45       
3.      Wang Xiaoshu    China   05:37:07       

Nations Overall Challenge (Open to National Associations only)

Position        Singapore Runner        National Association    Cumulative Time (hrs:min:sec)  
1.      Oliver Kandiero Zimbabwe        04:42:09       
2       Paul Kiprono Bor        Kenya   04:43:58       
3.      Ndabili Bashingili      Botswana        04:57:49       

Nations Regional Challenge (Open to National Associations only)

Position        Singapore Runner        National Association    Cumulative Time (hrs:min:sec)  
Africa                         
1.      Oliver Kandiero Zimbabwe        04:42:09       
2       Paul Kiprono Bor        Kenya   04:43:58       
3.      Ndabili Bashingili      Botswana        04:57:49       
North East Asia                        
1.      Yi-Thai Theng   Taiwan  05:36:05       
2       Mo Wai Shing    Hong Kong       05:51:45       
3.      Jong Soo Jang   South Korea     06:35:41       
Oceania & Europe                               
1.      Mark Dalkins    UK      05:14:03       
2       Richard Gleisner        Australia       05:21:25       
3.      Juha Hellsten   Finland 05:21:27       
South East Asia                        
1.      Noce Matital    Indonesia       05:20:59       
2       Cresencio Sabal Philippines     05:37:18       
3.      Amnat Srichat   Thailand        06:13:48       
South Asia                             
1.      Mavi Surender Singh Kumar       India   05:09:13       
2       Naseer Ahmed    Pakistan        05:39:22       
3.      Hanifur Rahman  Bangladesh      06:01:46       

Individual Challenge

Position        Name    Nationality     Cumulative Time (hrs:min:sec)  
1.      Emmanuel Kosgei Kenya   04:36:22       
2       Meshack Kirwa   Kenya   04:39:41       
3.      Joseph Kahugu   Kenya   04:43:50       

To find out more about the Greatest Race on Earth, visit the website www.thegreatestrace.com.