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  Home > News Room > Media Releases > 2011 > LARGEST AND STRONGEST FIELD OF ELITE RUNNERS TO COMPETE AS SCMS AIMS FOR IAAF GOLD LABEL STATUS  
 
 
 
 
   
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LARGEST AND STRONGEST FIELD OF ELITE RUNNERS TO COMPETE AS SCMS AIMS FOR IAAF GOLD LABEL STATUS
Singapore, 2 December 2011 - This year's Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore (SCMS) will feature an impressive contingent of elite athletes, which includes some of the highest ranked marathon runners in the world alongside last year's race champions. Tweaks have also been made to enhance the race experience for all participants, as the organiser, the Singapore Sports Council (SSC), works towards achieving the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Gold Label certification for the event.

2 "Elite athletes are a unique asset to any race and we are delighted to have in our midst a strong and diverse field of world-class runners who will undoubtedly add to the spectacle of this year's Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore. Their keen participation is testament to the efforts we have put into creating an attractive elite race, not just in terms of the prize money offered, but also a great race experience," said Mr Lim Teck Yin, Chief Executive Officer, SSC and Chairman, SCMS 2011 Organising Committee.
Largest and Strongest Field of Elite Athletes to Date
3 The SCMS 2011 will see a total of 26 international elite athletes from five different countries taking part in the Full Marathon race category. Participants from Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Russia and Ukraine will start their race alongside 20,000 Full Marathon and Ekiden runners under the Christmas lights at Orchard Road.

4 With US$50,000 as the top prize for the men's and women's open categories for the Full Marathon, fierce competition will ensue among these top international athletes, of which 14 of them are IAAF-certified Gold level elite runners.

5 One of the frontrunners to clinch the men's title this year is Jackson Kipkoech Kotut, who achieved top spots in the Tiberias Marathon (2009) and Barcelona Marathon (2010). Last year's Barcelona Marathon saw the Kenyan run a personal best of 2:07:30 to secure victory in record-breaking fashion.

6 Providing stiff competition for Kotut will be his counterparts Kenneth Mburu Mungara and Thomson Kibet Cherogony, both of whom stormed into first and second places at the SCMS 2010 respectively. Other contenders for the title include Ben Kipruto Chebet of Kenya and Yared Dagnaw Sharew of Eritrea, both of whom will be competing in the SCMS for the first time.

7 This year's SCMS will also welcome back Kenyan favourite and 2010 winner, Irene Jerotich Koskei, who will be expected to defend her title in the women's open category once again. Twice the winner of the Nairobi Marathon in 2006 and 2009, Koskei has since enjoyed a formidable few seasons with a respectable 2:31:29 in the Daegu Marathon earlier this year.

8 Looking to usurp Koskei's throne will be Russian veteran Silviia Skvortsova, who will be looking to replicate her recent impressive time of 2:27:51 in the Toronto Waterfront Marathon in October this year. Other notable runners in the women's open category include Yuliya Ruban and Kateryna Stetsenko of Ukraine.
Application for the IAAF Gold Label Certification
9 To secure international recognition of the SCMS, efforts have been undertaken by SSC to register the Marathon for an IAAF Gold Label certification. Achieving the Gold Label status would put Singapore's marquee running event alongside the likes of the New York, Beijing, Tokyo, Berlin and London Marathon, and affirm its reputation as one of the greatest races in the world.

10 "Applying for the IAAF Gold Label certification for the Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore underscores our ambition to become Asia's pinnacle race. With this certification, it will definitely help to boost our efforts in continuing to build on the race's strong following locally and in the region," added Mr Lim.

11 Some of the requirements specified by the IAAF for the Gold Label certification, which have been met by the organiser, include: a giant video screen on-site broadcasting the race; an international field of runners with a minimum number of men and women elite runners with specified race finishing times; doping controls; a well-equipped media centre with features such as live feed of the race and results; and full television coverage of the race in at least five different countries and international broadcasters distributing race coverage.
Key Broadcast Profiles
12 In line with the theme for this year's race - 'Run for a Reason', eight participants of the SCMS 2011 will be featured on television, each with their own interesting reasons and motivations for participation. Amongst these participants are last year's race winners - Kenneth Mburu Mungara and Irene Jerotich Koskei, local athletes Ashley Liew and Sumiko Tan, and four runners from various walks of life with inspirational stories to share.

13 These short featurettes will be shown regularly from now till race day on StarHub's complimentary sports channel SuperSports Arena (Starhub TV Channel 201). In addition, these runners will be interviewed during the 'live' broadcast of the race from 4.30am to 10.00am on the same channel. There will be a same day telecast of the race from 7.00pm to 12.30am. Race coverage will also be shown 'live' on SingaporeSports.tv from 4.30am to 10.00am.
Supporters' Activities
14 As part of SSC's continuous efforts to engage the non-running community in Singapore's marquee running event, a slew of fun activities have also been planned for spectators and supporters. The public can expect to be entertained with 'live' band performances, jugglers and roving percussion drum squads. A free shuttle service for supporters will also bring them to the best viewing spots along the route.

15 The SCMS 2011 will see 65,000 runners participating in a variety of race categories which include the Full Marathon, Half Marathon, 10km and 5km Fun Run. Featuring three different routes, runners will take in the full spectrum of iconic landmarks in Singapore including Orchard Road, Chinatown, Universal Studios Singapore, Sentosa, Singapore Flyer and the Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay.

-End-

Annex A: List of Elite Athletes

Men 

Name

DOB

Country

Personal Best

Recent Timing

Average Timing

IAAF
Ranking

Yared Dagnaw Sharew

15/11/1982

Eritrea

2:08:13

2:10:41

2:11:04

Gold

Gebreselassie Tsegay Reda

26/9/1984

Ethiopia

2:09:44

2:13:39

2:11:30

Gold

Ben Kipruto Chebet

22/2/1982

Kenya

2:09:26

2:09:26

2:11:54

Gold

Benjamin Maiyo

6/10/1978

Kenya

2:09:58

2:13:25

2:15:30

Gold

Charles Kibiwott

8/8/1974

Kenya

2:09:10

2:17:24

2:13:02

Gold

Daniel Kosgei

19/6/1986

Kenya

2:08:45

2:15:01

2:11:54

Gold

Jackson Kipkoech Kotut

12/2/1988

Kenya

2:07:30

2:11:16

2:08:57

Gold

Jackson Koech

26/12/1978

Kenya

2:09:42

2:10:35

2:10:14

Gold

Kenneth Mburu Mungara

7/9/1973

Kenya

2:07:36

2:07:36

2:08:03

Gold

William Kiplagat

21/6/1972

Kenya

2:07:50

2:13:21

2:10:21

Gold

John Kelai

29/12/1976

Kenya

2:11:05

2:13:25

2:11:53

Silver

Peter Muriuki Nderitu

1/1/1983

Kenya

2:10:52

2:10:52

2:12:15

Silver

Stanley Leleito

15/6/1984

Kenya

2:10:17

2:11:37

2:13:01

Silver

Thomson Kibet Cherogony

12/11/1978

Kenya

2:10:52

2:11:37

2:12:15

Silver

Vincent Krop

1/1/1983

Kenya

2:11:51

2:14:07

2:15:25

Silver

Francis Muendo Maundu

1/1/1977

Kenya

2:12:09

2:13:40

2:12:47

Bronze

Jonathan Kipkosgei Cheruiyot

1/1/1983

Kenya

2:13:04

2:13:06

2:15:33

Bronze

 

Women

Name

DOB

Country

Personal Best

Recent Timing

Average Timing

IAAF
Ranking

Irene Jerotich Koskei

8/9/1974

Kenya

2:28:57

2:31:29

2:33:03

Gold

Silviia Skvortsova

16/11/1974

Russia

2:26:24

2:27:51

2:30:26

Gold

Kateryna Stetsenko

22/1/1982

Ukraine

2:27:51

2:27:51

2:31:10

Gold

Yuliya Ruban

6/10/1983

Ukraine

2:27:10

2:27:10

2:33:59

Gold

Halima Hassen Beriso

10/11/1992

Ethiopia

2:32:42

2:32:42

2:32:42

Bronze

Roman Gebregessese

26/9/1984

Ethiopia

2:32:28

2:36:21

2:36:12

Bronze

Jacqueline Nytepi

1/1/1984

Kenya

2:34:16

2:40:01

2:37:32

Bronze

Magdalene Mukunzi (HM)

22/10/1983

Kenya

1:10:05 (HM)

1:11:54 (HM)

1:11:10 (HM)

Bronze

Lyubov Denisova

6/10/1971

Russia

-

-

-

Bronze

 

Annex B: Profiles of Top Elite Athletes

Kenneth Mburu Mungara
Gender: Male
Country: Kenya
Birth Date: 7 September 1973

Personal Records
Full Marathon: 2:07:36

Kenneth Mburu Mungara is a Kenyan long distance runner who specialises in the Marathon. Mungara was the champion of the Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore 2010 with a time of 2:14:06, his first time competing in the Republic. Mungara also broke his personal record the next year at the 2011 Prague Marathon with a time of 2:07:36. Mungara then moved on to clinch the champion's title in the Toronto Waterfront Marathon, making it his fourth consecutive year in winning that title from 2008 to 2011.

Career Highlights
2008 Tiberias Marathon, Second (2:10:37)
2008 Prague Marathon, Champion (2:11:06)
2008 Toronto Waterfront Marathon, Champion (2:11:01)
2009 Mumbai Marathon, Champion (2:11:51) - Course Record
2009 Prague Marathon, Third (2:10:29)
2009 Toronto Waterfront Marathon, Champion (2:08:32) - Course & Canadian Record
2010 Toronto Waterfront Marathon, Champion (2:07:58) - Course & Canadian Record
2010 Singapore Marathon, Champion (2:14:32)
2011 Prague Marathon, Champion (2:07:36)
2011 Toronto Waterfront Marathon, Champion (2:09:51)

Jackson Kipkoech Kotut
Gender: Male
Country: Kenya
Birth Date: 12 February1988

Personal Records
Half Marathon: 1:02:37
25km: 1:14:08
30km: 1:29:04
Full Marathon: 2:07:30

Jackson Kipkoech Kotut is a Kenyan athlete who specialises in marathon and other long distance races. He smashed the course record in the 2009 Tiberias Marathon with a time of 2:08:07. A year later, Kotut improved his personal Marathon best by almost a minute at the Barcelona Marathon, smashing the course record with a time of 2:07:30. This will be his first time competing in Singapore at the Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore 2011.

Career Highlights
2008 Tiberias Marathon, Third (2:10:57)
2009 Tiberias Marathon, Champion (2:08:07) - Course Record
2009 Rotterdam Marathon, Fifth (2:08:54)
2010 Barcelona Marathon, Champion (2:07:30) - Course Record

Irene Jerotich Koskei
Gender: Female
Country: Kenya
Birth Date: 9 August 1974

Personal Records
Half Marathon: 1:11:17
Full Marathon: 2:28:57

Irene Jerotich Koskei is no stranger to the Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore. Having competed last year, Koskei was crowned the women's champion with a time of 2:35:22 after being the first Kenyan woman to win in the Commonwealth Games marathon in the same year. Her first victory over the distance came at the Nairobi Marathon in 2006 and she won the race again in 2010 with a course record and personal best time of 2:28:47. 

Career Highlights
2008 Nairobi Marathon, Second (2:37:08)
2009 Tiberias Marathon, Champion (2:39:07)
2009 Nairobi Marathon, Champion (2:28:57) - Course record
2010 New Delhi Commonwealth Games Marathon, Champion (2:34:32) 2010 Singapore Marathon, Champion (2:35:22)

Silviia Skvortsova
Gender: Female
Country: Russia
Birth Date: 16 November 1974

Personal Records
Half Marathon: 1:09:17
Marathon: 2:26:24

Less than two months from her 35th birthday, Silviia Skvortsova had the marathon time of her life charging to a 2:26:24 second place finish at the Berlin Marathon 2009. With more than 10 years of marathon running experience under her belt, the 37 year old veteran will be a force to reckon with as her most recent marathon in Toronto saw her post a timing of 2:27:51 with a third place finish.

Career Highlights
2007 Las Vegas Marathon, Champion (2:29:01)
2009 Berlin Marathon, Second (2:26:24)
2011 Toronto Waterfront Marathon, Third (2:27:51) 

Annex C: List of Key Broadcast Profiles

Elite Athletes

1.    Kenneth Mburu Mungara (Kenya)

2.    Irene Jerotich Koskei (Kenya)

Local Athletes

3.    Ashley Liew (25 years old / Student)

  • Fastest time for the Full Marathon: 2 hr 41 min 55s
  • First runner-up for SCMS2010
  • Loves to run competitively and the freedom that comes with it
  • Used to weigh a massive 80kg before he took up running competitively
  • Appreciates the support of his girlfriend who cheered him on for more than 10 hours in the hot sun during one of his races

4.    Sumiko Tan (26 years old / Physical Education Teacher)

  • Fastest time for the Full Marathon: 3 hr 22 min
  • Running in memory of a pair of twin sisters whom she knew back then, when three of them were part of a team of long-distance runners in school
  • Was nearly second last year till she collapsed a short distance before the finish line

Other Runners

5.    Mary Tan (44 years old / Financial Consultant)

  • Recovering breast cancer patient
  • Decided to run the Half Marathon after receiving her diagnosis
  • Inspires the people around her with her positive attitude

6.    Kate Farrell (30 years old / Pre-school Teacher)

  • Participating in a Half Marathon for the first time
  • Ran and continued training despite having five feet of varicose veins removed
  • Has a twin sister based in Australia who she always shares advice with

7.    Jolene Tan (27 years old / Financial Consultant)

  • Started running only this year with encouragement from partner
  • Suffers from mild gastritis and panic attack

8.    Tham Jia Hui (12 years old / Student)

  • Participating in the Kids Dash for the second time
  • Loves to run with cousins and uncle has signed all of them up this year
  • Enjoys the competition and coming in first
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© 2011 Singapore Sports Council,  Last Updated: 12/02/2011