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Published on January 19, 2008

Regarded as the gruelling 42.195km Marathon World Cup, the GROE is open to any team of four, with each of them participating in one of the four events (Nairobi, Singapore, Bombay and Hong Kong). The team with the fastest aggregate time will share a prize money of over US$1 million, the biggest in world athletics.

With the support of Standard Chartered Bank, Thailand have sent both the men's and women's teams to the relay series.

Amnuay Tongmit, Sutat Kallayanakitti, Koday Senmood and Boonchu Jandecha form the men's team, while Ketmanee Senaphan, Apassara Prasathintpimai, Pacharee Chaitongsri and Sunisa Sailomyen make up the women's quartet.

After the first two legs in Nairobi (October 28) and Singapore (December 2), Kenya B team (aggregate time 4:38.51) and Kenya A (4:42.44) lead the men's overall standings, with Uganda in third place (4:51.15).

Amnuay (2:54.29) and Sutat (2:41.31) helped Thailand finish 19th overall and second to Vietnam in the SEA region after clocking the combined 5:36.00. Vietnam (18th) finished first in South East Asia with the aggregate time of 5:31.35.

In the women's category, Kenya A (5:32.52) and Kenya B (5:35.10) formed the best two teams after the first two legs, while China are third (5:44.07). Ketmanee (3:41.35) and Apassara (3:02.06) gave Thailand an eighth-place finish overall and the pole position among the SEA nations.

After the conclusion of the fourth leg in Hong Kong on February 17, the winning teams will claim $100,000 each.

Preechachan

Wiriyanupappong

The Nation

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