Laguna Phuket International Marathon Breaks Records

This year’s Laguna Phuket International Marathon has smashed another record - a massive THB 328,000 in charity sponsorship cash collected from its biggest-ever field of runners and walkers.

The record-breaking cash will be used to assist the marathon’s designated beneficiary Baan Jao Krua School in Phang Nga province, current focus of Laguna Phuket’s Sustainable Schools program.

The fifth annual Laguna event attracted a record field of 4,665 entrants from 45 countries, an increase of around 5% from 2009, who took part in a full marathon, half marathon, 10.5k run, 5k family walk and a 2k kids’ run.

The 5k family walk saw the biggest increase with 1,221walkers – up 50% from 811 in 2009. The walk was led by Thai movie star Ananda Everingham, and children from Baan Jao Krua School, to highlight the event’s charity mission.

Race director Roman Floesser said: “We were delighted to see this overall increase in entries and continued enthusiasm for the event from overseas, despite the effects worldwide from the political turmoil in Bangkok.”

The full marathon was won by Thailand’s Charkrit Boonkong in 2:40:08 and the women’s event was won by another Thai, Thanyathorn Samutnoi, who set a new women’s course record of 3:21:24.

This year’s entrant numbers were: full marathon 634; half marathon 876; 10.5k run 1,434; 5k walk 1,221; 2k kids’ run 500.

Laguna Phuket is now gearing up to host a unique endurance sports extravaganza for thousands of international triathletes with the 17th Laguna Phuket Triathlon on Sunday 28 November followed by the inaugural Ironman 70.3 Asia Pacific Championship a week later on 5 December 2010.

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