Planning pays off for Wang Kun
Macau-based student pulls away two kilometres before the finish to record first race victory
It was a battle of bodies and wits between the leading pair of Wang Kun and Kawarai Tsukasa in the men's half marathon.
For a long time the runners seemed content to take it in turns out in front before the 21-year-old Wang kicked clear for his first-ever race victory and the Macau-based student revealed afterwards it had all gone to plan, from his side at least.
"I didn't want to face the wind by myself for the whole race so I tried sometimes to drop back behind him to take a rest from it," said Wang, who finished the race in 1:09.08, ahead of Tsukasa in 1:09.26, with Australian McIntyre Klarie third in 1:11.55.
I didn't want to face the wind by myself for the whole race so I tried sometimes to drop back behind him to take a rest from it
"It went to plan for me today and I was able to kick my way clear with about two kilometres left," he said. "I have been doing a lot of interval training and I think this has made me stronger, especially at the end of my races."
Originally hailing from Jiangsu province, Wang is studying for a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education and Sports at the Macao Polytechnic Institute while grabbing the opportunity to test out the theories he is being taught in race conditions whenever he can.
"I am trying to race more and more," he said. "I am only really beginning as a runner so I need to get as much experience as I can."
Wang came to Hong Kong with one eye on China's national university championships later in the year.
"I came here for the atmosphere of this race and to experience what it is like to race in a huge event," he said.
