Korean Marathon Runners, Determined to Break the Record

‘Break the barrier of two hours and six minutes.’

All eyes are on the male runners as they push for a new record at the 2007 Seoul International Marathon – the 78th Dong-A Marathon – where participants run a full 42.195 km course, starting from Gwanghwamun and passing Cheonggye Stream and Seoul Forest, before ending at Jamsil Olympic Stadium.

The Office of the Seoul International Marathon did its utmost to encourage a new record of 2:06 minutes that will beat the time of 2:07.6, set by Gert Thys of South Africa in 2004. This year, a flatter Seoul course was chosen, the best domestic and overseas runners were invited, and the date was changed from the second to the third week of March in consideration of the chilly weather of 2006. A flat course, fine weather and excellent runners: these are three conditions that will encourage records to be broken.

Many world-class runners, including Kirui, will participate in the event –

The world’s best runners, some with outstanding 2:06 minute-level records, will take part, including: Paul Kiprop Kirui, 27, from Kenya, who set a record of 2:06.44 in the 2006 Rotterdam Marathon and was ranked fifth last year; Ukrainian Dmitro Baranowski, 28, who recorded 2:07.15 in the Fukuoka-Marathon; and Jason Mbote, 29, from Kenya, who has a record of 2:08.13.

Korean runners are also world renowned: Lee Bong-ju (Samsung Electronics), 37, the country’s most famous marathon runner; Ji Young-jun (Kolon), 26, the best Korean hope for this year’s marathon; and Eom Hyo-seok (Konkuk University), 23, the next generation hopeful of Korean marathon running.

Korean top marathon runners, determined to break the record –

Lee Bong-ju is the most representative of Korea’s marathon runners. He set a Korean record by finishing the 2000 Tokyo Marathon in 2:07.20. Ji Young-jun set a record of 2:08.43 in the 2003 Seoul International Marathon. And Eom Hyo-seok, who will join Samsung Electronics after graduating from Konkuk University, who is the best Korean hope for the event. He set Korea’s second fastest time – 1:02.36 – in the half course 2007 Kagawa Marugame Half Marathon (21.0975km) on February 4; after Lee Bong-ju, who ran the course in 1:01.04 in 1992. Another top runner is Jo Geun-hyeong (Daewoo Motors Sales), 27, who set his fastest time of 2:15.01 in the 2005 Seoul International Marathon.

The competition between female competitors will also be fierce. Among the participants are world record holders including Weianan (27, China), the champion of the 2002 Seoul International Marathon with a record of 2:24.02, and Werknesh Tola, from Ethiopia, with a record time of 2:25.42. Among the Koreans, Kwon Eun-ju, who quietly disappeared from the marathon stage after setting Korea’s 1997 female record of 2:26.12 seconds, is now aiming to return to the course at the age of 30.

yjongk@donga.com