A host of top long distance runners from around the World will be vying
for major honours at the 13th annual LSR Colombo Marathon race which
will be worked off on October 6 from Colombo to Negombo.This marathon
which was inaugurated in 1998 with a participation of just 300
competitors has now grown in status to become one of the most popular
and looked after sporting events in the international athletics
calendar similar to the famous races named after cities such as London,
New York, Hawaii Singapore etc. The most significant feature in this
event is the increasing number of foreign participants over the years
with already over fifty top overseas long distance runners having
confirmed their participation.
In fact there were only 28 foreign competitors in the inaugural event in Galle but last year that amount increased to 73 and altogether a record number of over three thousand competitors participated in six different events. The main attraction of course will be on the men’s and women’s full marathon where the competitors will cover a distance of 42.195 kilo metres for a prize money of US dollars 2,500.00 each plus an air ticket from SriLankan Airlines.
Last year Kenyan Geoffrey Birgen retained the men’s title for the second successive year clocking two hours, 26.40 seconds while his compatriot Kiprop John Samoei was placed third behind the runner up Ajith Bandara of Sri Lanka. Incidentally Kenyan athletes have had a complete stronghold in the men’s full marathon during the last couple of years as in 2011 they made a clean sweep with Geoffrey Birgen finishing ahead of his countrymen Kimutai Kenedy and Ezekiel Kogo.
The men’s and women’s runners-up in the full marathon will receive a cash award of US dollars 1,500.00 each, third place US dollars 1,000.00, fourth place US dollars 500.00, fifth place US dollars 250.00 and sixth to tenth places US dollars 100.00 each.The other events that will be worked off are the full marathon for veterans men and women (50 and above), half marathon for men and women (17 and above), half marathon for veterans (50 and above), 10 kilo metre fun run for men and women (15 and above) and 5 kilo metre fun run for men and women (15 and above).
This year the organisers are expecting over five thousand competitors for the full marathon and the half marathon in addition to the four other mini events which will be worked off concurrently. The marathon will be flagged off at 6.00 a. m. on October 6 from close proximity to the Independent Square and the competitors will proceed along Borella, Dematagoda, Peliyagoda, Wattala, alongside the Hamilton Canal, Pamunugama, Thalahena, Pitipana, Doowa and will finish at the Negombo Beach Park.
The LSR Colombo Marathon is organised and conducted by the Lanka Sportreizen and SriLankan Airlines in collaboration with the Ministry of Sports, Athletic Association, Ministry of Economic Development, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Youth Affairs, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotions Bureau, Department Sports Medicine, Colombo Municipal Council, Negombo Municipal Council and Sri Lanka Police.
In fact there were only 28 foreign competitors in the inaugural event in Galle but last year that amount increased to 73 and altogether a record number of over three thousand competitors participated in six different events. The main attraction of course will be on the men’s and women’s full marathon where the competitors will cover a distance of 42.195 kilo metres for a prize money of US dollars 2,500.00 each plus an air ticket from SriLankan Airlines.
Last year Kenyan Geoffrey Birgen retained the men’s title for the second successive year clocking two hours, 26.40 seconds while his compatriot Kiprop John Samoei was placed third behind the runner up Ajith Bandara of Sri Lanka. Incidentally Kenyan athletes have had a complete stronghold in the men’s full marathon during the last couple of years as in 2011 they made a clean sweep with Geoffrey Birgen finishing ahead of his countrymen Kimutai Kenedy and Ezekiel Kogo.
The men’s and women’s runners-up in the full marathon will receive a cash award of US dollars 1,500.00 each, third place US dollars 1,000.00, fourth place US dollars 500.00, fifth place US dollars 250.00 and sixth to tenth places US dollars 100.00 each.The other events that will be worked off are the full marathon for veterans men and women (50 and above), half marathon for men and women (17 and above), half marathon for veterans (50 and above), 10 kilo metre fun run for men and women (15 and above) and 5 kilo metre fun run for men and women (15 and above).
This year the organisers are expecting over five thousand competitors for the full marathon and the half marathon in addition to the four other mini events which will be worked off concurrently. The marathon will be flagged off at 6.00 a. m. on October 6 from close proximity to the Independent Square and the competitors will proceed along Borella, Dematagoda, Peliyagoda, Wattala, alongside the Hamilton Canal, Pamunugama, Thalahena, Pitipana, Doowa and will finish at the Negombo Beach Park.
The LSR Colombo Marathon is organised and conducted by the Lanka Sportreizen and SriLankan Airlines in collaboration with the Ministry of Sports, Athletic Association, Ministry of Economic Development, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Youth Affairs, Sri Lanka Tourism Promotions Bureau, Department Sports Medicine, Colombo Municipal Council, Negombo Municipal Council and Sri Lanka Police.
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