Launching of Allianz Penang Bridge International Marathon 2011

Photo courtesy of YB Danny Law





Allianz General Insurance Company (Malaysia) Berhad (AGIC), a subsidiary of Allianz Malaysia Berhad becomes the official title sponsor of Penang Bridge International Marathon (PBIM) when they signed a MOU with the Penang state government at the official launching of the " Allianz Penang Bridge International Marathon " at Boulevard Hotel, Kuala Lumpur today.

PBIM was represented by its Chairman YB Danny Law Heng Kiang (pix centre) while Allianz Malaysia Berhad was represented by its CEO Mr Jens Reisch (pix right) , and AGIC was represented by its CEO Encik Zakri Khir (pix left).

Allianz Malaysia is a subsidiary of Allianz Group which is one of the leading integrated financial services providers worldwide with its headquarter in Munich , Germany.
AGIC offers a comprehensive and integrated range of general, life insurances and investment solutions by combining a local understanding with their global outlook.

According to YB Danny Law Heng Kiang, the upcoming event on 20 Nov will be officially named "Allianz Penang Bridge International Marathon 2011"

He also said that so far 9,000 runners had registered for the various events in 10km, half marathon (21.0975km) and full marathon (42.195km) since the on-line registration began in early May and it will be closed on 20 Oct
There were 24,000 participants last year, a Malaysian record then, and he expects the figure to reach 30,000 this year.

He added that the grand prizes for the lucky draw will be a Proton Saga 1.3 and a motobike like the 2 previous years.

Ref.: Penang Bridge International Marathon official website
Ref.: Kwang Wah Yit Poh of 20 Aug

Prize Money Structure at IAAF World Championships 2011 Daegu

Prize Money reward structure at IAAF World Championship 2011 Daegu

A) World Record Programme offered by Toyota and TDK :
Athletes achieving a World Record will be eligible for a special World Record Award of USD100,000.

B) Prize Money Structure from IAAF
1) Individual Events -
USD60k/30k/20k/15k/10k/6k/5k/4k for Gold/Silver/Bronze/4th/5th/6th/7th/8th placings respectively.

2) Relays -
USD80k/40k/20k/16k/12k/8k/6k/4k for Gold/Silver/Bronze/4th/5th/6th/7th/8th respectively

3) Marathon Cup (Teams)
USD20k/15k/12k/10k/8k/6k for Winners/Silver Medalists/Bronze Medalists/4th/5th/6th placings

Kenenisa Bekele to defend world title in Daegu - Countdown 10 days

Kenenisa Bekele (ETH), 29, world and Olympic champion, will defend his 10,000m title in the upcoming World Championships 2011 in Daegu, 27 Aug to 4 Sept, his first race sine early 2003

He has won 12 consecutive gold medals, including 2 Olympic and 4 world titles along with 2 world records in this track distance since 2003.
He also won the 5,000m gold in the previous world meet in Berlin 2009

If he wins in Daegu, he will become the first runner at any distance to win 5 consecutive outdoor world titles.

Usain Bolt has arrived in Daegu

Countdown 11 days and Usain Bolt has arrived in Daegu in preparation to defend his 100m and 200m titles (both WR's 9.58 n 19.19) as well as the Jamaica's gold medal in 4 x 100m relay

He will skip the remaining 2 post-WC Samsung Diamond League meets in Zurich and Brussels beginning 8 and 16 Sept respectively

Quote of the day

We are different, in essence, from other men.
If you want to win something, run 100 meters.
If you want to experience something, run a marathon.
---- Emil Zatopek

Marathon schedules of IAAF World Championships 2011 Daegu

13th IAAF World Championships 2011 Daegu, South Korea, 27 Aug - 4 Sept
Marathon schedules:

Women : Sat 27 August 9:00am (opening event)
Men......: Sun 4 September 9:00am (last day)

Winners of the 12th edition at Berlin 2009:
Men :
1) 2:06:54 - (CR) Abel Kirui (KEN
2) 2:07:48 - Emmanuel Kipchirchir (KEN)
3) 2:08:35 - Tsegay Kebede (ETH)
Women:
1) 2:25:15 - Bai Xue [白雪] (CHN)
2) 2:25:25 - Ozaki Yoshimi (JPN)
3) 2:25:32 - Mergia Aselefech (ETH)

New Marathon Course Records established so far in 2011

02 Jan - 2:08:07 - Xiamen - Robert Kipchumba (KEN)
16 Jan - 2:09:54 - Mumbai - Girma Assefa (ETH)
23 Jan - 2:16:44 - Khon Kaen, Thailand - Kiprona Lilan (KEN)
06 Mar - 2:06:13 - Lake Biwa, Japan - Wilson Kipsang (KEN)
20 Mar - 2:06:35 - LA, Los Angeles - Markos Geneti (ETH)
10 Apr - 2:08:08 - Daegu, S. Korea - Yusuf Songoka (KEN)
17 Apr - 2:04:40 - London - Emmanuel Mutai (KEN)
17 Apr - 2:10:58 - Madrid - Moses Arusei (KEN)
18 Apr - 2:03:02 - Boston - Geoffrey Mutai (KEN)
03 July- 2:10:01 - Gold Coast - Nicholas Manza (KEN)