Julius seizes his big moment with victory in Hong Kong Marathon
Kenyan Maisei learns his lessons from two previous defeats and is planning an investment - but not in a bank
The race might be backed by a bank but Julius Maisei's plans for the "life-changing" prize money he won at the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon yesterday is to take the cash and run - as far from a bank as he can.
"I will invest it in buying a plot of land back home and grow tea when I retire from running. Bank it? No chance," said the canny Kenyan after winning the showpiece men's marathon in two hours, 14 minutes and 18 seconds. He pocketed US$57,000.
Not exactly the words a bank, the title sponsor of Hong Kong's biggest participatory sport no less, would want to hear. But Maisei was emphasising the Kenyan way of life. And running marathons is woven into the fabric.
It was third time lucky for Maisei. Last year he finished fourth and in 2011 he came second. On both occasions he broke away from the pack too early, couldn't sustain the pace and was swallowed up by his rivals. Yesterday, he not only had it all well planned out in his mind - the race tactics as well as how to invest the money - but he also executed it perfectly.
"I went for it around the 39-kilometre mark, a little later than on my last two occasions here. I really pushed myself and it worked," said Maisei. "I was afraid I would get caught again and that gave me more energy. I had learned my lessons well."
Fellow Kenyan James Mbugua tried to challenge Maisei, but didn't have the legs in the final spurt to finish 10 seconds behind in 2:14:28. Ethiopia's Deribe Robi was third in 2:14:37.
It was a far cry from last year when seven runners smashed a 14-year-old course record with Ethiopian Dereje Abera winning in 2:11:27. The runner-up also had the identical time and, for the first time, organisers had to examine body positions to decide Abera had edged out his rival. Organisers said then the new course record was all down to money thanks to a near 50 per cent increase.