Safra Singapore Bay Run & Army Half Marathon 2012: Big on numbers, Big on familiar faces!

The Safra Singapore Bay Run & Army Half Marathon is back (SSBR & AHM) – bigger and definitely better! The most massive event of the Singapore running calendar drew 70,000 avid fans. The number of “bump ins” was incredible.

“I always see my friends along the race!” chimed the 21km women’s closed runner. Michelle Chay, 24, who just started her career as a lawyer, enthused, “I’m quite satisfied with my timing.” Juggling training, her social life and one of the most demanding professions, the chirpy lady is one of many who enjoyed the new race route.

New to this year’s route is “Gardens By The Bay”. This popular race inclusion might have been the reason why timings were clocked at rocketing speed. The fastest runner blasted a “1:12:25” for 21 full kilometres! The lightning fast runner, Soh Rui Yong said, “ I felt that I ran well, and kept to a comfortable running pace throughout the race. The new route passing by Bay South Garden at Gardens By The Bay was very nice.”

Agreeing with the quick feet champion is Tan Yong Teck, running the 21km men’s open for the first time. He said, “I feel that it’s one of the best race of the year! The dancers and cheers elevate a lot.” The 38 year-old videographer was referring to a host of exciting performances that lined the amazing route.

When asked about congestion, Michelle said, “It was well-organized. Every year, I have to go all the way to the front. I squeezed in at 4.50am, so there was no congestion for me.” Taking a different spin on the human traffic, Yong Teck said, “Free pacers! Anywhere I run, there are runners in front of me.”

“Quite smooth. No bottleneck!” Yong Teck verifying that Safra remains ever so efficient. Though a common complaint was that the baggage area was quite a distance from the start point, many were extremely thankful that there were no queues to deposit their baggage. Just drop and run!

The army’s presence was felt with the medical corps deploying in force to give immediate triage and medical support. Safety first, always!

Joined together, SAFRA & the Army prove once again that they are the race masters – efficient, energizing and ever ready for anything!

Race Results

21KM MEN’S OPEN

1. Kiproo Lilan Kennedy – 1hr 04min 23sec
2. Bernard Mwendia Muthoni – 1hr 04min 24sec
3. Hosea Kipyego Kogei – 1hr 04min 32sec

21KM MEN’S CLOSED

1. Soh Rui Yong – 1hr 12min 25sec
2. Liew Wei Yen Ashley – 1hr 15min 20sec
3. Mok Ying Ren – 1hr 16min 56sec

21KM MEN’S MASTER

1. James Middleditch – 1hr 20min 14sec
2. Gavin Bong Chun Jin – 1hr 25min 22sec
3. Lexxus Tan – 1hr 26min 07sec

21KM WOMEN’S OPEN

1. Esther Karimi Wambui – 1hr 16min 17sec
2. Jessica Gabrielli – 1hr 31min 49sec
3. Kim Christine O’Flynn-Kelly – 1hr 43min 55sec

21KM WOMEN’S CLOSED

1. Qi Hui – 1hr 23min 39sec
2. Mok Ying Rong – 1hr 31min 42sec
3. Michelle Chay – 1hr 34min 46sec

21KM WOMEN’S MASTER

1. Vivian Tang – 1hr 26min 08sec
2. Alyssa Matheson – 1hr 30min 27sec
3. Itsuko Tanaka – 1hr 33min 09sec

SAFRA 10KM MEN’S OPEN

1. Joseph Gitau Kariuki – 33min 18sec
2. Wambui Paul Kimani – 33min 55sec
3. Samson Kiplagat Tenai – 34min 30sec

SAFRA 10KM MEN’S MASTER

1. Kek Hong Leng – 40min 55sec
2. David James Stevenson – 42min 19sec
3. Stuart McIntosh – 42min 34sec

SAFRA 10KM WOMEN’S OPEN

1. Yucabeth Bore – 41min 55sec
2. Ng Yu Jun Eliza – 47min 44sec
3. Chen Wei Ping – 48min 22sec

SAFRA 10KM WOMEN’S MASTER

1. Wee Siew Kim Sharon – 49min 45sec
2. Kathryn Campbell – 50min 22sec
3. Winnifred Selukov – 51min 15sec