Daniel Lee Chi-wo gave himself a timely boost for his Asian Games preparations with a sprint finish win in the Nike 10km Challenge at Tin Shui Wai yesterday.
Triathlete Lee ran shoulder to shoulder with Kirk Sabean and Chan Ka-ho for most of the 10km race but made a break for home at the bottom of the final hill with just 300 metres to go.
Lee's time of 33:07 was well outside his course record of 31:17 that he set in winning this event in 2004. Lee, 29, has won the Nike event five times but this time he was not concerned with his winning time.
'It was very humid today, so the race pace wasn't all that fast and I decided to stay with Kirk and Chan rather than push for a fast time,' Lee said. 'Winning this race again tells me my fitness level is where it needs to be leading into the Asian Games in two weeks, so I'm pleased with the way the race went.'
Lee will compete in a warm-up triathlon in Taiwan next weekend before departing on December 2 for Doha, where he hopes to be among the medal winners.
Sabean was somewhat pleased with second place after also placing second to Chan in last week's Gold Coast 15km. 'The humidity was pretty high today and the hills on this course really take it out of you in these conditions,' said Sabean, who finished in 33:12 from the 5,200 starters.
