The Hindu : Mumbai Marathon today

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Feb 15, 2004

Sport

Sport - Athletics

Mumbai Marathon today

By Nandakumar Marar

MUMBAI, FEB. 14. Celebrity appearances by the likes of American long jumper Mike Powell and sprint ace Michael Johnson at an international marathon race may appear an aberration, but when it is time for the long haul, the focus shifts to another continent - Africa.

Athletes from South Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia and Tanzania will hit the roads on Sunday morning in the Standard Chartered Mumbai International Marathon 2004, striding along the waterfront for a huge slice of fame and a small fortune. The master among men will run away with $25,000 and the women's winner $15,000.

Josiah Thugwane, all spiked hair and high spirits, is one such success story out on the Mumbai streets, firing up a million ambitions around the world from the moment he strides out of the leading pack. He is only one of a classy South African bunch in the fray, but easily the most visible symbol of the African dream.

Hendrik Ramaala may have the best time, a 2:08:58 at the London Marathon 2003 guaranteeing elite status, but Thugwane will be the most watched by countrymen hooked to live television telecast. Thugwane will be running from memory, a personal best 2:07:28 clocked way back in 1997 at Fukuoka, though confident about holding his own against hungrier runners. He gave up the mine job four months after returning a hero from Atlanta and is now a professional athlete, sponsored by Nike and involved with projects to keep youngsters off the streets.

"You know the situation in South Africa. There is no work so I quit to make way for someone else to take my place in the coalmine,'' said the South African, currently involved with training of national distance runners and also deprived children showing athletic flair.

Ethiopian Belay Wolashe (personal best 2:12.04 at Rome 1996), Kenyan Patrick Chumba (2:12:10 at San Sebastian 2002) are formidable rivals expected to be in the lead pack, while Thugwane's countryman and training partner Johanes Kekana (2:25:01 at Abuja 2003) has seen from close quarters how a famous victory can change lives. These proud Africans form the life force of this event, hardened survivors for whom the struggle to lead a decent living for self and family is often tougher than mastering a marathon course.

Hugh Jones, a former marathon great and race director of the Mumbai event, touched upon humidity affecting race timings in both main event and half-marathon despite an early morning start, so a controlled race may bring other runners into reckoning around the 37km mark when decisive moves happen. Russian Leonid Shvetsov (2:09:33 at Hamburg 2003) is among the consistent performers for the last two years.

Information about women entries is sketchy about the list of leading athletes provided by organisers. Kenyan Esther Kiplagat (2:25:32 in Paris 2002) and Poland's Violetta Uryga (2:34:44 at Nagyoga 2003) have the performances to take charge. Zola Budd's withdrawal due to illness does not affect the competitive edge since the South African distance runner who ran in England colours is a name from the past.

World marathon record-holder Paul Tergat of Kenya is yet to arrive but he was supposed to be part of the 7km Dream Run only. According to Anil Singh of Procam International, about 4000 to 5000 athletes will participate in marathons and half-marathons. No event-wise break-up is available. Hugh Jones is the Race Director, Bill Reynolds the Start/Finish Director, Adille Sumariwalla the Race Referee and R.H. Shetty the Course Director of the Mumbai Marathon, with Essar the associate sponsor. The prize money in men's, women's full marathon is on offer upto the 30th place, $750 and $500 respectively. The Indian runners have a separate prize money structure.

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