Hong Kong Marathon 2023: Kenya’s Kipchumba claims men’s title, Eticha is fastest woman – as it happened
- Philemon Kiptoo Kipchumba crosses finish line in 2hrs, 10 mins and 48 secs to claim win; Fantu Eticha Jimma wins women’s race
- Gi Ka-man is first local runner after battling past rival Wong Wan-chun, who had been leading for most of the race
Philemon Kiptoo Kipchumba won the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon in a time of two hours, 10 minutes and 48 seconds on Sunday.
The Kenyan came home comfortable ahead of Ethiopia’s Limenih Getachew Yizengaw, who was second in 2:11:56, and Senbeta Geza Tadease in third in 2:12:00.
Fantu Eticha Jimma was the first woman in 2:27:51, with Sinke Dessi Biyadgilgn second in 2:34:46.
In the battle to be the first local runner across the line, Gi Ka-man beat out major rival Wong Wan-chun, who had been leading for more than 30km. Gi’s finishing time was 2:24:47, not enough for the Hong Kong record he had been targeting.
Competitors battled rain and high humidity, with slippery road surfaces making for some hard conditions, and it was not a day for fast times.
It was a day of uplifting stories though, from first-time runners to local star couple Wong Kai-lok and Lo Ying-chiu who have won the men’s and women’s 10k respectively.
There was even a sprinkling of film magic in the air, with Hong Kong international film star Chow Yun-fat taking part in the 10k.
Here is how all the action unfolded.
Reporting by Chan Kin-wa, Shirley Chui, Mike Chan, and Nicolas Atkin.
