Some 6,300 athletes join 17th int'l half marathon at Cambodia's world heritage Angkor Wat

philstar.com  
Updated December 2, 2012 

PHNOM PENH (Xinhua)- About 6,300 professional and amateur athletes from 67 countries and regions participated in the 17th international half marathon on Sunday at the complex of Angkor Wat temples, a World Heritage Site, in Siem Reap province.

Among the athletes, 4,150 are foreigners, up 25 percent compared to the number last year, and 2,150 are Cambodians, up 17 percent, according to the report of the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC).

The event was presided over by Tourism Minister and NOCC's president Thong Khon.

As a result, the men's 21-kilometer race was won by Australian Joji Mori in a time of one hour, 14 minutes and fifteen seconds; German Tolyer Arnold finished second in 1:17:17; and Cambodian Ma Viro came at third in 1:20:10.

The women's 21-kilometer run was awarded to Swedish Jenny Lundgren who finished in 1:25:44; India's Unik Setyorin took the second place in 1:29:03; and Australian Nadia Stawysky was third in 1:31:10.

In the men's 10-kilometer race, the first finisher was awarded to Cambodian Kieng Samon and the second and third winners were won by Irish Derick Rien and Cambodian Kong Thoeun, respectively.

The Angkor Wat International Half Marathon was held to promote sports and tourism, and to raise fund for landmine victims and humanitarian activities.

A foreign runner donated 45 U.S. dollars and a Cambodian runner donated 5 dollars in order to be eligible to join the races.