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Hong Kong Marathon 2015
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The Youth Dash will offer only 500 places for contestants on a first-come, first-served basis.

Youngsters get ready to make dash for Hong Kong Marathon

Runners aged 12 to 15 will be able to take part in the popular event next year in a new 2.2km race

Youngsters who in the past could only watch the Hong Kong Marathon and associated races on television can now get ready for a piece of the action.

Organisers plan to launch a shortened version of the race next year for contestants aged 12 to 15. The 2.2-kilometre Youth Dash will take place on January 25, the day of the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon.

"Many young running enthusiasts have expressed their wish to take part in the marathon over the years," Kwan Kee, chairman of race co-organiser the Hong Kong Amateur Athletic Association, said in announcing the new race yesterday.

"The Youth Dash will not only further develop their interest in long-distance running but also give them the opportunity to show the marathon spirit together with other athletes from around the world."

The race will be divided into two categories - one for those aged 12 to 13 and the other for those aged 14 to 15.

They will start at 11.50am and noon, respectively, at the Wan Chai Sports Ground and end at Victoria Park in Causeway Bay.

Kwan said he hoped the participants would join the 10km or half-marathon races when they turned 16, the minimum age for entry. Only those aged 20 and above can run the full marathon.

The Youth Dash will offer only 500 places for contestants on a first-come, first-served basis.

Invitation letters were sent to secondary schools across the city yesterday and would-be contestants need to register through their schools. Each school can nominate up to five participants.

Dorothy Li Tsz-yau, a 14-year-old student at Cheung Chuk Shan College in North Point, said she would apply as soon as the invitation letters arrived.

"I've been longing to join the marathon for years," said the running and roller skating fan. "Hopefully I can get into the race."

Li said she liked running and roller skating because she had made new friends from doing these sports after school.

Sin Shing-chung, from the same school, said he would apply but felt 2.2 kilometres was not long enough because he had been training to run 4 kilometres for about six years.

"I want to feel the atmosphere of the marathon," said the 14-year-old. "I've been watching it on TV for many years. Maybe now, I'll be the one on TV."

Last month, all 23,000 slots for the popular half-marathon race and all 15,000 places for the full marathon were snapped up within hours. An extra 500 places were added to the half-marathon from last year, but the total quota for those races, the 10-kilometre race and the wheelchair event remains at 73,000.

 

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Kids get ready to make a dash for HK marathon
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