“Hi-Seoul” Champs Conquer Guam Marathon

Even a heavy rain could not hinder the 2007 Hi-Seoul Marathon Race champions in Guam.

The 16th Pacific Island Club’s (PIC) Guam International Marathon was held in Guam, a western Pacific island, yesterday. Although it was 27 degrees Celsius and pouring, the champions of the Korea Masters distinguished themselves.

Lee Ji-won (37), the first runner-up in the 10km Hi-Seoul Marathon this year, won first place in the men’s 10km run with a time of 34:38. Lee was the winner of the 5km course last year.

Ryu Seung-hwa (29), Lee’s wife, ranked second with a time of 20:11 in the women’s 5km run. As husband and wife prizewinners, Lee and Ryu became a subject of conversation among the participants.

Lee Jeong-sook (42), the winner of the Hi-Seoul Women’s Half Course Race this year, ranked second in the women’s half course with a time of 1:24:47. Kim Gwang-ho (33), the winner of the Hi-Seoul Men’s Half Course Race, and Lee Beom-il (36), the winner of the Hi-Seoul Men’s Full Course Race, were the first runner-up (1:13:51) and the second runner-up (1:16:46) in the men’s half course race in Guam, respectively.

Kim Jang-hoon (40), the “philanthropic singer,” runner, completed the 5km course in 37:30.

Kim participated in the “PIC Love-Charging Project,” raising a total of 8,000 dollars, 16 dollars for every 100 meters he ran: 4,000 dollars for “Dreamland,” a Korean language school for Korean children in Guam, and 4,000 dollars for the “Ire Study Room” in Seoul.

yjongk@donga.com