Bali Marathon: Hakuna Matata

(4/22/2012)

Over 2,000 runners from around the world participated in the first BII Maybank Bali Marathon run on the roads of Gianyar on Sunday, April 22, 2012.

The first group of full-marathon runners set off on a 42-km course at 5 pm sharp at the pfficial starting line located at the entrance to the Bali Safari and Marine Park.

Firing the official starting pistol was the regent of the Gianyar regency, Dr. Ir. Tjok Oka A.A. Sukawati. As the runners set off in the darkness a Balinese belaganjur orchestra struck up a chorus of drums and gongs.

Staggered starts were over the ensuing hours for the half-marathon, 10-km run and a special division for wheelchair-bound athletes.

As the runners crossed the finish line they picked up their finishers medals before proceeding deeper inside the park for a morning-long party filled with prize presentations, music from leading musicians and booths run by businesses who played an important supporting role in the first international full-marathon held in Indonesia in over two decades.

Kenyan Runners Predominate Among Winners at BII Maybank Bali International Marathon

Men’s Full-Marathon Winners

Kenyan runner, Lilan Kennedy Kiprroo won the men’s division in the 42-kilometer division with a time of 2 hours 16 minutes and 54 seconds. Kiproo’s Bali time, bettered by 3 minutes and 13 seconds the winning time he recorded at the KL Marathon in June 2011. The winning time earned Kiproo a paycheck  of US$20,000 handed to him on the winner’s platform by the President Director of BII Dato’ Khairussaleh bin Ramli.

Still in the men’s division, two more Kenyans were the second and third persons to cross the finish line. Luke Kipkemoi Chelimo (2:17:00) and Wilson Chepkwony (2:18:23), each netting prize checks of US$15,000 and US$10,000, respectively.

Women's Full-Marathon Winners

Kenyans also dominated the winners in the women’s category for the full-marathon. Winfridah Kwamboka and Elizabeth Jeruiyot, both Kenyans, finished with respective times of 2:42:48 and 2:43:35. A Canadian woman, Kari Eliot finished third with a time of 3:07:13.

Like their Male counterparts in the full-marathon, the top female finisher won US$20,000, second place US$15,000 and third place US$10,000.

Top Indonesian Finisher

The best time in the full-marathon by an Indonesian participant was turned in IG Gede Karangasem who finished the course in only 2:38:39  – a respectable result only 20 minutes off a time recorded by the top three finishers.

Other top Indonesian male finishers were M Ishari (2:51:19) and Novi Gunawan (3:11:33).

Indonesian females runner participating in the full-marathon saw times of 3:07:50 produced by Supriati Sutono, followed by Erni Ulatningsigh (3:11:28) and Novita Andriyani (3:39:44).

The top Indonesians male and female full-marathon runners each took home US$3,500 while the 2nd place Indonesian man and woman full-marathon finishers earned US$2,000.

Half-Marathon Open Division

The first-place winner in the men’s division of the half-marathon was Luke Kilbet at 1:05:49. Second place went to Polycarp Mogusu at 1:05:52 and third to Josphet Kiptanui Too Chobei at 1:08:34.

The first-place women’s finisher in the half-marathon was Eunice Nyawira Mochiri; second Elizabeth Chepkanan Janan Rumoko at 1:15:03 and third for Esther Wamboi Karimo at 1:16:22.

Winners in the Hal-Marathon men and women’s division were all Kenyans. Prizes for first, second and third in both the men’s and women’s division earned respectively US$10,000, US$5,000 and US$2,500.

Half-Marathon Indonesian Winners

Indonesia runners turned in time sufficiently close to the fastest pace to encourage speculation that Indonesian runners will soon be winning international honors in marathon events.

In the men’s division Agus Prayogo came in first (1:11:26), Juahari John second (1:12:43) and third went to Kristianus Ore Rato (1:14:39).

Indonesian women in the half-marathon saw Triyaninsig come in first (1:18:05), Yanita Sari second (1:28:30) and Siti Khodijah third (1:34:18)

First, second and third place Indonesian finishers, both male and female, respectively won US$1,000, US$800 and US$700.

10-Kilometer Open Division