2003 Hastings Lions Half Marathon Summary
In Glorious Sunshine, and a dying wind, this year's Hastings Half Marathon, Broke many records, except the Big one of getting a Woman to beat 71 minutes and Win The Manor Insurance Award of £7000.
Jane Omoro (Kenya) ran her Heart out to record the second fastest time in the 19th year History of the Event of 71.52, and was followed by Russian Athlete Yelena Burkina in 73 minutes.
Top U.K. Woman was Mara Yamuchi (Harrow), followed by Michaela McCallum, and past Winner Alison Fletcher (Dulwich). The mens race was won by Johnson Mururi (Kenya) in 63.26, closely followed by Issac Arusei also from Kenya. The Russian Challenge of Sergui Emellakov((4) and Marat Abubakov(6) failed to stop the Class Kenyan athletes.
The Leading British athlete was Adrian Mussett (Essex) in 5th place, with Barry Royden (Medway) 9th and Gareth Williams (Medway) 10th.
The Entries were a record for the Event of 3895, with more women taking part than ever before - over a Thousand! The Mayor's Twin Town Cups for the leading Athletes from Hastings Twin Towns were Male – Geert Bekhert (Oudenaarde) and Katelijne Osselaer,also from Oudenaarde in Belgium.
A Record number of Money is expected to be raise by the Hastings Lions Club, bringing the total to over One Million Pounds in the Event's History.
Everyone was a Winner at Hastings, and it showed The Town in its best Light possible.
Eric Hardwick
Race Director
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