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Hong Kong Marathon 2015
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A competitor in the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon shows his support for the Occupy Central democracy movement. Photos: Nora Tam

North Korean halts African juggernaut in Hong Kong Marathon

Kim Hye-gyong boosts her reputation as city stops for annual running event - but two runners in hospital in critical condition

Kevin Kung

Pint-sized North Korea Kim Hye-gyong stopped Ethiopia's domination of the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon when she won the women’s marathon today.

Nearly 65,000 people took to the streets of Hong Kong this morning, not to "occupy" the city but to compete in the popular event, comprising the marathon, half marathon and 10km.

Two runners, aged 24 and 49, were in critical condition last night at Eastern Hospital and Yan Chai Hospital. One fainted and suffered a head injury in Causeway Bay, while the other fell sick as he was making it across Tsing Ma Bridge. Organisers said 40 runners had to be hospitalised, up from 30 last year.

The traditional supremacy of athletes from the highlands of Africa on the streets of Hong Kong continued when Addis Ababa resident Sentayehu Merga Ejigu stormed to victory in the men’s race in two hours and 13 minutes, just 93 seconds short of the record set by countryman Dejere Abera in 2012.

Compatriot Fikre Assefa Robi was second in 2:13:05, while Kenya’s Robert Kipkorir Kipchumba was third in 2:13:07 as a field of nearly 15,000 men and women in the showpiece race enjoyed near-perfect running conditions.

Watch: Meet some of the Hong Kong marathon runners

“It was a good race and apart from some wind, the conditions were ideal. I’m very happy as this is my first time in Hong Kong and to win such a big race,” said the 25-year-old Ejigu, who runs for the Police Club back home.

But the African dominance was halted in the women’s race by Kim, who easily defeated Ethiopian pair Meskerem Assfa Wondimag and Tsehay Desalegn Adhana.

Kim, 22, became the first North Korean to win the women’s race in Hong Kong since 2008 with a time of 2:31:46. Wondimag finished in 2:33:57 and Adhana came home in 2:34:06.

North Korea’s Kim Hye-gyong raises her arms in triumph at the finish.
“This is a big win for me as it could help me represent my country at the world championships (marathon) in Beijing in August,” Kim said. She was also crowned the overall women’s champion in the Asian Championships.

Kim, who has a twin-sister who also runs marathons, said the victory over the Africans would do her confidence “the world of good” before the world championships.

More than 70,000 people took to the streets of Hong Kong this morning, not to Occupy the city but to compete in the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon.

A handful of runners held up yellow umbrellas and banners as they ran past the VIP stand at the start of the marathon and half marathon in Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, and only a few were spotted in the run to the finish in Causeway Bay.

Ethiopia's Ejigu Sentayehu Merga breaks the tape held by Standard Chartered chief executive Benjamin Hung Pi-cheng.
Pro-democracy demonstrators, including members of the League of Social Democrats, took their calls for genuine universal suffrage to the start, which was attended by Chief Secretary Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and police chief Andy Tsang Wai-hung.

Holding yellow umbrellas and “I want real universal suffrage” banners, they called for both officials and the absent Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying to step down from their positions.

A yellow balloon attached with the message was released halfway into the air, while other attempts to launch balloons elsewhere were stopped by event staff and police.

The popular event comprises the marathon, half marathon and 10km races (along the Island Eastern Corridor), with the runners converging at the Victoria Park finishing line in Causeway Bay.E

Hong Kong's Ivan Lo Ching-hin wins the men's 10k.
Local elites Ivan Lo Ching-hin and Sam Kong Lai-ming dominated in the 10km races, while mainlander Li Shaozhuang and Australian Ellie O’Kane won the half marathon titles.

Lo, a Hong Kong representative in triathlon, won his first title in 33 minutes and 17 seconds, despite suffering from the flu and nearly withdrawing from the race. “It’s good to scoop a title after finishing second twice before,” he said.

Hong Kong's Sam Kong Lai-ming wins the women's 10k.
Primary school PE teacher Kong also won her first title, finishing in a personal best 38:33.

“I have run the race more than 10 times. I expected to finish first but the time was slower than my target,” said Kong.

“I finished third two years ago and was absent last year because of injury. It was a bit windy today. I stayed behind the guys to be sheltered.”

Li Shaozhuang wins the men's half marathon.
Li, a university student based in Dalian, was making his debut in Hong Kong and won in 1:10:44

“I’m not familiar with the route – there are may slopes – so I followed defending champion Wang Kun. I managed to speed up in the final 5km to win,” said Li, who won the half marathon at last year’s Beijing Marathon.

Wang was 36 seconds behind in second, while local hope Gi Ka-man came third in 1:12:20.

Ellie O'Kane, of Australia, wins the women's half marathon.
O’Kane made another successful visit to Hong Kong when she won in 1:19:17. The Melbourne-based physiotherapist won the Unicef Half Marathon at Hong Kong Disneyland two months ago.
In wheelchair events, Fung Ying-ki won the 10km in 30 minutes and three seconds, while Cheng Yan-keung won the 3km title in 13 minutes 29 seconds.
Fung Ying-ki wins the 10km wheelchair event.
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