Ethiopia wins marathon

Yemane Tsegay Adhane from Ethiopia won this year’s Macau Galaxy Entertainment International Marathon finishing the race in a record time of 2:15:06.

The annual race which is jointly organised by the Sports Development Board (IDM) and the Macau Athletics Association, drew 2,999 athletes from 50 countries and regions to the Macau Stadium at 6:00 am yesterday, including elderly, teenagers and parents with children.

Adhane took home a total of three prizes for winning the marathon, breaking the record and a bonus prize, all of which were valued up to 23,000 US dollars, around 184,000 patacas.

For the men’s marathon, 18 athletes were invited to participate, namely Hu Kajiun from China, Ri Kum Song and Ryo Pong Hyok from North Korea, AntĂłnio Sousa and Vasco Azevedo from Portugal, Joseph Kadon Epetet from Kenya, Mykhail Iveruk from the Ukrain, Yemane Tsegay Adhane from Ethiopia, Philip Bandawe from Zimbabwe and Lok Wai Kin from Macau.

In the women’s category, organisers invited Xu Yuzong from China, Jong Yong Ok e Kim Kum Ok from North Korea, Abeba Tola Eda from Ethiopia, Edyta Lewandoska from Poland, Natalya Volgina from Russia, Kristijna Loonen from the Netherlands and Leong Lai Heong from Macau.

Kenya’s Cyprian Kiogora Mwobi finished in second, just seconds behind Adhane, and in third came Mykhail Iveruk from the Ukrain.

In the women’s category, China’s Yuan Lili finished the race first in with a time of 2:36:40, and was also awarded a bonus prize, all of which summed 18,000 US dollars, around 144,000 patacas.

In second came Yong Ok Jong, from North Korea, while fellow athlete Leong Lai Heong settled for third.

Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Fernando Chui Sai On, presided over the award ceremony and handed out winner’s their prizes and cheques.

According to organisers, the amount of all prizes reached around 700,000 patacas.
The special prize went to 66 year old Ray Shooter from Isle of Man, close to the UK.

A total of 1,171 athletes registered for the half marathon, with the winner of the race being a Macau local, Chan Chan Kit in the men’s category, and Chao Fong Leng in the women’s category.

In addition, Galaxy Entertainment Group Marathon Team (GEG Marathon Team), led by deputy chairman Francis Lui, achieved the best results since its formation. The team won both the first and third positions in the Female Mini Marathon Category B and also swiped the Public and Private Entities Group Trophy for the fourth year running.

Lui said he was “delighted” to have the opportunity to participate in sports together with his staff and to encourage communication between each other.

“I am delighted to see the team spirit amongst everyone, and the GEG determination to succeed encouraging everyone to reach the end point,” he said.

David Banks, group chief operating officer, who participated in the Half Marathon again this year, as well as director of human resources and administration, Eileen Lui, said they were proud of the team’s excellent achievements this year.

GEG’s front-line staff stole the limelight in the Female Mini Marathon Category B by winning the first and third positions. The winner was Adhkari Shanti Devi, a security guard GEG’s Waldo Casino, who said she has always loved running in marathons but missed last year’s marathon due to a leg injury at the time.

Devi said she was “exhilarated” with her first position in this marathon, since her return from her injury.

The second runner up was StarWorld Casino dealer, Lam Hang Lei, who is a first-time marathon runner.

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