Marathoner in good spirits ahead of Donga race

``With fresh determination I will compete in the Donga race.`` So said marathoner Kwon Eun-Ju, 24, who moved her training site from Cheju-do to Boryong in South Chungchong province Sunday. She sounded optimistic enough in an interview, apparently over the disappointment of having placed 15th with a time of 2:41.28 in last month`s Osaka International Marathon.

Kwon earned the title of ``female Hwang Young-Jo,`` a reference to the Korean Olympic gold medalist, by breaking the 2-hour 30-minute barrier in the 1997 Chosun Ilbo Marathon in Chunchon. But an injured ankle kept her racing to a minimum over the past three years. She continued to suffer from a related foot problem and failed to perform up to her abilities.

But Kwon is ready to make a new start at the upcoming Donga International Marathon. In contrast to her past habit of experiencing mental and physical setbacks after a lackluster performance, she has remained in good spirits since the Osaka race. Upon returning home from Japan, Kwon traveled to Cheju-do to round out her winter conditioning program with speed training.

``I will run as a beginner with an open mind,`` she said. ``To be honest, I have been so depressed because my race performances have been so bad after the strong season I had in 1997. In the Donga international race, I`m hoping to regain the form I had at that time,`` Kwon said.

Yang Jong-Koo yjongk@donga.com