Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore 2010 To Feature Strong, Diverse Field Of Elite Runners

Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore 2010 To Feature Strong, Diverse Field Of Elite Runners

Singapore, 3 December 2010 - A unique showdown is on the cards in both the men's and women's Full Marathon categories of the inaugural Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore (SCMS) 2010 on 5 December 2010. This comes after the Singapore Sports Council (SSC), the race organiser, today announced the finalised entry list of world-class elite athletes which includes the likes of recent race winners and up-and-coming runners who will be competing in the event for the first time.

2. Fresh from becoming the first Kenyan woman to win the gold medal in the women's marathon at the recent Commonwealth Games in New Delhi in 2:34:32, Irene Jerotich Kosgei is the favourite to lead the charge in the women's open category. A two-time winner of the Nairobi Marathon (2006 and 2009), Kosgei enjoyed a stunning season in 2009 where she reached the podium in every marathon she competed in.

3. She will however, face strong opposition from Russian veteran Lyubov Morgunova, the 2008 Rotterdam Marathon champion who was placed second in the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon 2009. Morgunova represented her native country in the marathon at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. Compatriot Margarita Plaksina, who claimed the 2010 Russian Marathon title and finished second at the 2010 Houston Marathon, is also a prospect for the women's title.

4. In the men's open category, Kenneth Mburu Mungara from Kenya is in good form having clinched his third consecutive Toronto Waterfront Marathon champion's medal this past September. He will make his debut in Singapore and will race against counterparts Thomas Omwenga, champion of the 2010 Vancouver Marathon, and Vincent Krop, who finished third in the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon 2009.

5. Additionally, a host of up-and-coming elite athletes such as Francis Kibiwott Larabal, winner of the JoongAng Seoul Marathon in 2009, Ayelu Lemma Geda, women's champion of the CamSur Marathon 2010, and Seada Kedir Adilo, female winner of the 2009 Napoli Marathon, will be using the SCMS 2010 as a platform to launch their marathon careers.

6. The SCMS 2010 will see more than 20 elite athletes from around the world arriving in Singapore to participate in the Marathon. Many of these athletes attribute the iconic Full Marathon route and the revised prize money structure introduced by the organiser this year as key draws to compete in the event.

7. The revised prize structure will see the winners of the men's and women's Full Marathon open categories pocketing US$66,500 each, which is a substantial US$15,000 increase from previous editions. The athletes will also stand a chance to pocket other monetary prizes such as a 'Time Bonus' if they finish the race under a stipulated time and the Champions Fund, an incentive fund to entice the winners of the men's and women's Full Marathon open categories to return in 2011.

8. "Our aim this year is to increase the level of competition among the elite athletes. By taking the unique step of channelling the normal appearance fees to the prize purse and introducing the new prize structure, we have succeeded in attracting many world class athletes to Singapore to compete at the Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore 2010. With the strength of the elite field in both the men's and women's Full Marathon open categories, we are expecting a very exciting race indeed," said David Voth, Chairman, SCMS 2010 Organising Committee and Senior Director, Sports Marketing Group, SSC.

9. The SCMS 2010 will see a record 60,000 runners competing in a variety of categories which includes the Full Marathon, the Half-marathon and the 10km Run. Featuring three different routes, runners will take in the full spectrum of iconic landmarks in Singapore including Orchard Road, Chinatown, Universal Studios Singapore, the Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resort and the Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay.

Annex A: List of Elite Athletes Participating in the SCMS 2010

Male Elite Athletes

• Ambesse Tolossa (Ethiopia)

• Augustine Rono (Kenya)

• Benjamin Maiyo (Kenya)

• Benson Cherono (Kenya)

• Edwin Kimaiyo (Kenya)

• Francis Kibiwott Larabal (Kenya)

• Francis Maundu (Kenya)

• Hosea Kiprop Rotich (Kenya)

• Kenneth Mburu Mungara (Kenya)

• Leonard Mucheru (Kenya)

• Stephen Kinyanjui (Kenya)

• Thomas Cherogony (Kenya)

• Thomas Omwenga (Kenya)

• Vincent Krop (Kenya)

Female Elite Athletes

• Aberu Mekuria Zennebe (Ethiopia)

• Adanech Zekiros (Ethiopia)

• Annerien van Schalkwyk (South Africa)

• Ayantu Dakebo Hailemaryam (Ethiopia)

• Ayelu Lemma Geda (Ethiopia)

• Gladys Asiba (Kenya)

• Irene Jerotich Kosgei (Kenya)

• Lyubov Morgunova (Russia)

• Margarita Plaksina (Russia)

• Seada Kedir Adilo (Ethiopia)

Annex B: Profiles of Elite Runners - Lyubov Morgunova and Kenneth Mburu Mungara

Lyubov Morgunova

• Country: Russia

• Hometown: Moscow

• Birth Date: 14 January 1973

Lyubov Morgunova is a long-distance runner from Russia who has represented her native country in the marathon at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. A veteran runner with victories in the 1997 Twin Cities Marathon, 2000 and 2004 Honolulu Marathon, 2003 Toronto Waterfront Marathon, and the 2008 Rotterdam Marathon, Morgunova was placed second in the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon 2009.

Personal Records:

• Full Marathon: 2:25:12

• Half Marathon: 1:08:45

• 10 KM: 32:55

Career Highlights:

• 1996 Cesano Boscone Marathon, Second (2:37:30 - debut)

• 1997 Twin Cities Marathon, Champion (2:30:43)

• 1998 Beijing Marathon, Second (2:28:51)

• 1999 Nagoya Women's Marathon, Second (2:27:43)

• 1999 Amsterdam Marathon, Second (2:29:21)

• 2000 Malmo Half Marathon, Third (1:08:45)

• 2000 Honolulu Marathon, Champion (2:28:33)

• 2001 Boston Marathon, Third (2:27:18)

• 2003 Toronto Waterfront Marathon, Champion (2:36:19)

• 2004 Honolulu Marathon, Champion (2:27:33)

• 2006 Rock n Roll San Diego Marathon, Third (2:29:39)

• 2007 Nagano Olympic Commemorative Marathon, Third (2:29:34)

• 2008 Rotterdam Marathon, Champion (2:25:12)

• 2009 Singapore Marathon, Second (2:34:47)

Kenneth Mburu Mungara

• Country: Kenya

• Hometown: Limuru

• Birth Date: 7 September 1973

Personal Records:

• Full Marathon: 2:07:58

Kenneth Mburu Mungara is a Kenyan long distance runner who specialises in the Marathon. Having won the Toronto Waterfront Marathon for three consecutive years from 2008 to 2010, Mungara is the current course record holder with a time of 2:07:58 set this year. Mungara has also clinched the 2009 Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon with a time of 2:11:51, making him the current course record holder of the race.

Career Highlights:

• 2007 Mombasa Marathon, Second (2:10:13)

• 2008 Tiberias Marathon, Second (2:10:37)

• 2008 Prague Marathon, Champion (2:11:06)

• 2008 Toronto Waterfront Marathon, Champion (2:11:01)

• 2009 Mumbai Marathon, Champion (2:11:51) Course Record

• 2009 Prague Marathon, Third (2:10:29)

• 2009 Toronto Waterfront Marathon, Champion (2:08:32) - Course & Canadian Record

• 2010 Toronto Waterfront Marathon, Champion (2:07:58) - Course & Canadian Record

Annex C: SCMS 2010 Event Day Fact Sheet [348 Kb]

For media enquiries, please contact:

Samantha See
Fulford Public Relations
Email: ssee@fulfordpr.com

Katherine Kee
Fulford Public Relations
Email: kkee@fulfordpr.com

Jemuel Fu
Executive
Media Relations
Singapore Sports Council
Email: jemuel_fu@ssc.gov.sg

About Singapore Sports Council
Formed in 1973, the Singapore Sports Council (SSC) is tasked with developing a holistic sports culture for the nation. The SSC creates opportunities for people to excel in sports; opportunities for people to be engaged in sports as, coaches, officials, volunteers or fans; and opportunities for people to do business in sports as sponsors and investors. The SSC has changed the way Singaporeans view and participate in sports. Through sports, we now have an enhanced national identity thanks to our sports participation programmes; greater national pride as a result of high performance results at international and regional games; and more diversified economic stability through our vibrant sports industry initiatives.

To find out more, visit our website www.sportsingapore.gov.sg
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Standard Chartered has a history of 150 years in Singapore, opening its first branch here in 1859 and in October 1999 was among the first international banks to receive a Qualifying Full Bank (QFB) licence, an endorsement of the Group's long-standing commitment to its businesses in the country.

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