LAHORE, Pakistan, 31 January 2005 — South African Tscho Mpolokeng surprised a pack of Kenyan runners to win Pakistan’s first-ever international marathon yesterday.
The 28-year-old finished in two hours 15:57 minutes to clinch the first prize of $10,000.
“This is a great win and I dedicate the win to my country and its people,” he said.
Kenyan David Menyo made a brave challenge until the last kilometer to finish in two hours 17:11 minutes and pocket the second prize of $7,500.
Tanzanian Jermaine Boki finished third in two hours 17:27.
The women’s marathon was won by Kenyan Jane Kariuki in two hours 43:03 minutes to take the first prize of $10,000 after a close finish which saw three Kenyans and an Ethiopian in hot pursuit.
Ethiopian Tadelech Birra finished second in two hours 43:45 and Kenyan Naomi Wangui finished third in two hours 43:56 minutes.
A total of 15,000 including leading athletes from 16 countries competed in the marathon and in 10-kilometer and six kilometer races.
“It’s a historic event and we never thought in our wildest dreams that so many people would come. Seeing the overwhelming response this race will now be an annual feature,” said Ghouse Akbar, chairman of the Lahore Marathon Organizing Committee.
The marathon attracted leading athletes from Kenya, Ethiopia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Russia, Portugal, Sweden, Ukraine, Portugal, Denmark, Britain, Zimbabwe, Bulgaria, India and South Korea.
It started and finished at the Gaddafi cricket stadium.
The Indian competitors included veterans Ashish Roy and Fauja Singh. Roy, 72, has run more than 90 marathons while Singh, 94, is based in England and is still a regular runner at international level.
Singh was awarded a special prize of $5,000 for improving his personal best in the 10-km race. He donated it to a local charity.
Ethiopian Shiferahnu Tewodros won the 10-kilometer race in 28:27:00 minutes while Kenyan Catherine Mutwa won the women’s section in 34:07:00 minutes.
