Watch Out for Faster Record

‘Best players, best condition, and various record bonuses….’

It is predicted that the 2003 Donga Seoul International Marathon on March 16th will have more heated competition for the record than ever.

It is because it invited the best players in and out of the country, and it is providing various incentives to shorten the record.

In men`s division, world class marathoners, including Gut Tyce (South Africa) with the 10th record of the world, 2:06:33, Simon Borre (2:07:55, Kenya), Hailu Neguthia (2:08:16, Ethiopia), and Dakei Ryuji (2:08:35, Japan) are participating. And representing Korea, Ji Young-joon (2:09:48, Kolon), who set the best record last year, is participating.

In women`s division, Jiang Suzing (2:23:13) of China, Alina Ivanova (2:25:34, Russia), and Abe Domoe (2:26:09, Japan) are participating, and from Korea, the ‘rising star’ Bae Hae-jin and Jung Yoon-hui (2:33:22, Metropolitan Development Corporation) are competing each other. The line-up of the runners is as good as any other world-class championships.

On top of everything, all preparations for faster record have been done. The course has been improved removing the Namdaemun ~ Yongsan Station ~ Namdaemun course, which has up hills and down hills, and the land bridge near the Hakyeoul Station of the Subway Line 3. And the starting time will be moved up by two hours from 10AM to 8AM when there is no wind. The change of starting time was allowed for the rise of average temperature in March due to global warming.

Furthermore, the operating department of the Donga Marathon provides various prize money and bonuses to induce the competition between runners. The winning prizes are 50,000 dollars for man, and 20,000 dollars for woman. There is also the bonus for the record. For men`s division, if one wins the race within the record of 2:06:59, he will be given the bonus of 100,000 dollars. If one finishes the race within 2:06:59 but does not win it, he will be given 30,000 dollars. The other bonuses are 15,000 dollars within 2:07, 10,000 dollars within 2:08, and 5,000 dollars within 2:09. And 100 million won for the men`s Korean record, and 50 million won for the women`s Korean record are prepared. Now, the only thing left to do is just watch the players make faster records.

Jong-Koo Yang yjongk@donga.com