Hong Kong Marathon 2023: day of celebration for happy couple as they both claim half-marathon titles
- Eric Wong and Virginia Lo race same distance at the city’s flagship event for the first time
- Both now have their eyes on greater success at marathons in Japan and Korea
Eric Wong Kai-lok and Virginia Lo Ying-chiu have thousands of reasons to celebrate on Valentine’s Day, after the couple won their respective races at the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon on Sunday.
The pair, who have been together for three years, said it was the first time they had raced the half-marathon at the same time at the city’s flagship athletics event.
In the absence of any overseas competitors, Wong was the surprise winner of the marathon in 2021, but opted for the shorter distance this time around as part of a training plan geared towards a fast time at the Tokyo Marathon in three weeks.
The 27-year-old crossed the finish line first in one hour, nine minutes and 50 seconds, with Lo coming home in 1:20:23. The pair beat the defending champions in both races.
“It’s extra special that we can start the race together, it’s an encouragement for both of us,” said Wong, as he waited for his partner at the finish line.
Wong, who ran his quickest half-marathon time of 1:07:41 set in Taipei last December, said he had considered retiring because the 90 per cent humidity had made it “so difficult to breathe”.
