Mutai and Oh Jung-hee Tops in 2004 Chuncheon Marathon

Kenya`s 26-year-old runner Alisa Mutai and Oh Jung-Hee (26•Samsung Electronics) won the 2004 Chosun Ilbo Chuncheon Marathon, the nation’s 58th marathon competition in the men`s and women`s categories, respectively.

The defending champion Mutai took first place with a record of two hours, 14 minutes, and 31 seconds, leaving Jung Yoon-san (two hours, 14 minutes, and 38 seconds, Dong Yang University) behind after completing the 42.195 km course, which at Chuncheon Stadium and circles Euam Lake. 2002 champion Je In-mo (28, Gumi City Hall) finished in third place with a finish time of two hours, 15 minutes, and 11 seconds.

Oh Jung-hee notched a finish time of two hours, 35 minutes, and 59 seconds in the women’s race to pass Lim Kyung-hee (two hours, 39 minutes, and 39 seconds,•Korea Athletes Federation) and Lee Gong-joo (three hours, seven minutes, and 20 seconds,•Suwon City Hall) who took second and third place, respectively.

Meanwhile, in the men`s Masters category, the current champion, Lee Dong-gil (29,•Wia Corporation) who holds the record of two hours, 25 minutes, and 6 seconds established in the 2004 Seoul Dong-a International Marathon, broke the tape in two hours, 25 minutes, and 56 seconds, which is 50 seconds short of his current record.

Jong-Koo Yang yjongk@donga.com