Whiteman posts record win
ENGLISH runner Anthony Whiteman yesterday produced that record-breaking touch of class to win the 10th Hong Kong Bank of China Cup Men's International Golden Mile run around the streets of Central District.
Taking over the front running from the gun, the tall 23-year-old Briton, who was ranked 11th in the world over 1,500 metres last year, held off several challenges during the race to power home in four minutes and five seconds to lop two seconds off the race record of 4:07.00 recorded by New Zealander Phil Clode in 1991.
Midway through the second lap of the tight circuit, China's leading middle-distance runner Song Ming You ran right on Whiteman's shoulder and looked set to strike as the pair headed for home followed by Australian Nigel Adkin and Hamish Christensen from New Zealand running in third and fourth positions.
But Whiteman was not having any of it and drove for the tape from over 200 yards out to break Song as both Adkin and Christensen put in strong finishes in the final dash for the line to finish second and third in 4:06.00 and 4:07.00 respectively.
Song, who last competed in Hong Kong in the 1993 Watson's East Asia Junior Championships, finished fourth in 4:08.00.
For Hong Kong, Mike Ellis finished 11th in 4:24:00, while Yap Kai-tak faded badly to finish one off the back of the pack in 4:31.00.
Whiteman's win rounded off a great day for the British after Michelle Faherty had earlier won the Nike Cup Women's International race in a time of 4:47.00 to score a comfortable win over pre-race favourite Geraldine MacDonald of New Zealand who took second place in 4:49.00.
Third-placed Liu Hai-yan from Guangdong ran a good race to edge China's official entry Zeng Yu Ying out of the medals.
