Kenyan runner takes first place in Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon

Kenyan runner Rutto Bethwell Kipkemboi was the champion of the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon on Feb 9, clocking in at 2:11:13 hours. 

“I never knew I could win. I struggled to beat the other seven to nine runners around 30 km. It's a hard win,” Bethwell Kipkemboi said. “Hong Kong people were friendly. With the cheering along the way, it was a good game.”

This year, 383 local runners won the special incentive award with a cash prize of HK$1,000 each, reduced for the first time from the usual HK$10,000.

The award is for permanent residents who finished the marathon in less than three hours for men and three and a half hours for women.

“While prize money was a nice incentive, I didn't think it would diminish their desire to compete or pursue better results,” said Kwan Kee, the Chairman of the Hong Kong, China Association of Athletics Affiliates.

“After finishing the race, I heard some runners complaining about the prize money, but I believed the process was the most important aspect,” said Tam Ho-hin, 23, a local amateur runner who finished the marathon.

Around 74,000 runners participated in the marathon on the coldest day of the year, including 15,00 non-locals. 

The marathon started at Nathan Road and finished in Victoria Park.

Hong Kong local and spectator Paddy Haughey made creative boards with her friends to encourage runners and their friends who took part in the race.

“We wanted to make the race more exciting and interactive,” Haughey said.

Tam Man-huen, 24, an artist, finished the concurrent 10km race. She said that professional as well as amateur runners enjoyed the race. 

“I thought such an atmosphere was only found in the Hong Kong Standard Chartered Marathon,” Tam said. 

“It was cool to see so many people doing something difficult together,” said spectator Jesa Amparo.

Fong Wing-ho, Vice President of The Education University of Hong Kong who ran in the 10k said, “Through this marathon, over 100 runners from the University reunited and cheered for us.”