Thousands take on once-in-a-lifetime 10k race along Hong Kong’s newest runway
Before the planes get going, runners got the chance to pick up some speed at the international airport’s new third runway
Hundreds of runners stopped at the finishing line and paused for selfies or interviews as marshals desperately tried to clear the area, as the one and only edition of the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon Three-Runway System 10km International Race took place at the city’s airport on Sunday.
In breezy and occasionally wet conditions, there was no new women’s world record, with Loice Chemung of Kenya crossing the finish line in 30 minutes and 25 seconds, some 24 seconds short of the world record of 30:01, set by Kenyan runner Agnes Tirop in Herzogenaurach, Germany in 2021.
Fellow Kenyans Janeth Chepngetich and Lilian Rengeruk rounded out the top three, finishing at 30:56 and 31:12, respectively.
In the 10km challenge group, it was a Kenyan one-two in the men’s overall category. Samwel Mailu, who finished in 28:00, edged out fellow compatriot Vincent Langat by just one second in a tight finish. Tadese Gebresilase of Ethiopia was third in 28:12.
Local distance runner Virginia Lo Ying-chiu was the first Hong Kong female across the line in 35:35, shattering her personal best by 17 seconds, a mark she set two years ago in Australia.
“I knew my conditions were good lately and was expecting to lower my record,” she said. “The track was really good, it was flat and without much sand and gravel, so it helps us in terms of these high-speed races.
