Ji Challenges Lee in Donga International Marathon

The double impacts of the Korean Marathon, Lee Bong-joo (34, Samsung Elec.) and Ji Young-joon (23, Co-Rong), faces off for the first time in domestic competition.

The very stage will be the Donga International Marathon held on March 14.

As Ji is rapt in the winter training session, he threw a challenge to Lee and commented on January 29, " I`m determined to participate in the Donga International Marathon. I`ll pass Lee Bong Joo and win with a record in the 2:07 range."

Ji`s personal best reads at 2:08.43. Lee Bong joo`s best record stands at 2:07.20 (Korea record).

After 36 days of high altitude training in Kunming, China, Ji returned home and has done a daily 60~80 km run. He gets up at 5 a.m. and implements jogging, interval training, par track (setting a point on the roads and training naturally) which makes his schedule tight.

Ji Young-joon is the last apprentice of the deceased Jung Bong-soo who had tutored and mentored both Hwang Young-jo and Lee Bong-joo.

Ji Young-joon had a surprising win on his first showdown in a full course marathon in Chun-cheon Marathon 2001 sponsored by Chosun Ilbo as he surged to be the successor of Korean marathon and finished in second place behind Gert Thys (South Africa) only by a second at the Seoul Donga International Marathon last year.

Lee Bong-joo`s willingness to take the Donga Marathon crown is also strong as his comeback after seven years away since the 1997 Donga international marathon. Lee`s heavy training continues at Gyongnam province, Go-Seong with 40~50 km of daily running after last December’s training session in Jeju island. He will concentrate on training in high altitude once he returns to Kunming, China on February 2.

“Ji Young Joon will be a world class runner with more racing experience. But I will not concede the title to Ji. After winning the Donga Marathon, I want to perform well in the Athens Olympics," Lee said.

Samsung Elec. coach Oh In-Hwan confidently commented, "The course for the Seoul Donga Marathon is so good that it will be a chance for Lee to break his old Korean record and set a new one."

jaeyuna@donga.com