Jeff Campbell triumphs in Hong Kong Half Marathon as Wong Mei-yan wins third Action Asia race this year

In soaring temperatures, Japan’s Masashi Shirotake wins overall title in the men’s 12km even with Briton Rachel Sproston claiming the women’s title

Runners enjoy being splashed with water by marshals as they try to keep cool in the race that started and finished at Pak Tam Chung in Sai Kung

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Jeff Campbell (left) and Paul Fournier after finishing first and second in the Bonaqua Action Sprint Half Marathon on July 3, 2021. Photo: Action Asia

Published: 4:38pm, 3 Jul 2021Updated: 4:38pm, 3 Jul 2021

Canadian elite runner Jeff Campbell dominated the Bonaqua Action Sprint Half Marathon 21km on Saturday, emerging as the overall winner while Hong Kong’s Wong Mei-yan won her third Action Asia race this year in the women’s event.

Campbell came home in one hour, 33 minutes and 57 seconds and Wong clocked 1:56:35 in the Pak Tam Chung, Sai Kung race, which was postponed from last week because of thunderstorm warnings.

In the Half Marathon 12km category, Japanese runner Masashi Shirotake won the overall title in 59:26 while British runner Rachel Sproston took the 12km women’s title in 1:16:44.

Wong Mei-yan on her way to victory in the women’s event. Photo: Action Asia

Campbell beat Frenchman Paul Fournier by less than three seconds with Australian Matthew Jack third in 1:45:36.

“It was really hot. I was with Paul for a while then I pulled away,” said Campbell. “The race was very well organised. The route was well marked and marshals were doing a great job. It was my first racing experience in a long time.”