Race Date: 03/18/2018 Distance: Marathon

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(2018) Wilson Erupe Loyanae of Kenya collected a fourth Seoul Marathon title while Damte Hiru of Ethiopia prevailed in the women's contest at this IAAF Gold Label road race on Sunday (18).

The 29-year-old Loyanae broke from the lead pack in the final five kilometres to take the win in 2:06:57, six seconds clear of compatriot Mark Korir.

Loyanae's first victory in the Korean capital came in 2012, when he clocked a 2:05:37 course record. He won again three years later in 2:06:11 and then successfully defended that title in 2016 in 2:05:13, lowering his course record. He was back last year but in a quality race, finished fifth.

The race opened swiftly. A pack of nine reached five kilometres in 14:49, ten kilometres in 29:39, 15 in 44:41 and 20 in 59:59. The next five-kilometre stretch witnessed a breakaway attempt by Ethiopian Deribe Robi and Kenyan Paul Kipkemoi Kipkorir, who built a 10-second lead over the chase pack of seven, reaching the 25-kilometre check point in 1:14:57.

Forging on, the pair extended that lead to 18 seconds five kilometres later but paid for those early ambitions in the next five-kilometre stretch when they were caught by Loyanae, Korir, Benson Kipruto, Marius Kimutai and Filex Kipchirchir.

The next stretch would prove decisive. Loyanae broke away to gradually piece together a five-second lead over Kipruto at 40 kilometres, with Korir hanging on another two second back. In the waning metres, Korir mad up significant ground, passing Kipruto, but unable to catch the leader. Korir clocked 2:07:03 and Kipruto 2:07:11 to clip 10 seconds from his previous lifetime best.

Further back, Kimutai was fourth in 2:07:45 and Kipchirchir fifth in 2:07:57.

The women's race began in similar fashion with a group of eight running together through 20 kilometres in 1::08:06. That group was reduced to five by 25 kilometres: Ethiopians Hiru, Mulu Seboka Seyfu and Gutemi Shone Imana and Kenyans Margaret Agai, the defending champion, and Monica Jepkoech.

But Hiru would soon make her decisive break. The 24-year-old led by 23 seconds at 40 kilometres and went on to take her first career victory over the distance, finishing unchallenged in 2:24:08. Agai and Jepkoech made up some of that ground over the closing stages but still finished well back, clocking 2:24:30 and 2:24:31 to finish second and third. Seboka was next in 2:25:01.

History of Dong Ah Marathon Fame

3/21/1931	The 1st Marathon Gyeongju (sponsored by the Korea Athletics Association, sponsored by the Dong-A Ilbo Chosun Sports Association) held 14 miles (23.2km) course between Seoul and Yeongdeungpo
3/21/1933	The 3rd Gwanghwamun ~ Cheongryangri ~ Mangwooli Changed to the 15-mile course of Kyungchun Highway Yangjunggobo's Son Gi-jeong won 1 hour 24 minutes 03 seconds
3/19/1939	The 10th tournament was changed to Gwanghwamun ~ Naju tong ~ Seodaemun intersection ~ Penglae ​​bridge ~ Han river bridge ~ Nam Kyungseong station square
1941 ~ 1953	Stopped for 14 years due to repression of Japanese press and war
April 18, 1954	In 1977, the 50th anniversary of the marathon of the Boston Games .
Aug. 5, 1955	Delayed by the Liberal Party
April 29, 1964	Performed in full course (42.195km) and renovated by Dong-A Marathon
1965	Lee Myung-jung (KEPCO) 2 hours 21 minutes 21 seconds
3/13/1966	Kim Bok-rae (Coal Corporation) 2 hours 19 minutes 07 seconds Breaking the 20-meter barrier
1970	For the first time, it invited foreign players such as Canada and Japan to develop into international convention Seoul Playground - changed to flat course of round trip to Uijeongbu Kim Chihwan (KEPCO) 2 hours 17 minutes 34 seconds
1973	Kim Chihwan (KEPCO) 2 hours 17 minutes 01 seconds
1974	Moon Hong-joo (Konkuk University) 2 hours 16 minutes 15 seconds
1977	Japan's Masuda is the first foreign winner
1978	Han-Do Drug ~ Transition to round-trip course
1979	Girls 'and boys' high school 10km was established.
1980	Korea's first female 30km division won the Eun-joo (Minting & Construction) with 2 hours 02:08
March 28, 1982	Hosted by Seoul International Marathon hosted by KBS 7,466 participants including domestic masters
1983	Changed course to Jamsil Stadium ~ Gyeonggi-do Seongnam City Mental Cultural Institute
1984	Lee Hong-ryeol (Kyunghee University) Breaking down the 15 minute wall of the village and winning 2 hours 14 minutes 59 seconds
1986	Yoo Jae-sung (Korea National University of Fine Arts) 2 hours 14 minutes 06 seconds
1987	Lee Jong-hee (Cheil Jedang) 2 hours 12 minutes 21 seconds
1988	Held at the Olympic course
1990	Kim Wan-ki (Kolon) 2 hours 11 minutes 34 seconds
1991	Hwang Young-joo, 3rd place in full course first challenge
1992	Held at Chuncheon-am Amphitheater
1993	Kim Wan-ki (Kolon) held the best record in the domestic tournament with 2 hours 09:25
1994	Changed name to Dong-A International Marathon and 65th Dong-A Marathon Kim Wan-ki (Kolon) 2 hours 08 minutes 34 seconds
1995	Lee (Cologne) 2 hours 10 minutes 58 seconds to win the Masters 162 people attend a full course Division
1996	Martin Pizz (Spain) 2 hr 08 min 25 sec.
1997	Masters Full Course, Half Course, 10km, 5km
March 29, 1998	6,931 Masters attended the opening ceremony of Mass Marathon
March 21, 1999	Masters 11,303 players participated in the Korean sports history single event for the first time 10,000 participants
March 19, 2000	Changed the course to Seoul in commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the establishment of Dong-A Ilbo Revived international convention in three years
March 18, 2001	The women's division was also promoted to the international convention and won with Yunsun Sook 2 hour 32 minutes 09 seconds
Apr. 21, 2002	1st National Marathon Competition and Masters Competition held in Anmyeondo High school team 13 men, 9 women and 5,690 masters participated
March 17, 2002	Won theWorld Cup successWonrepresentative countries of 32 countries participating marathonersDong-A Seoul International Marathon for the first time in the history of Korean marathon Asahi Japan, foreign broadcasting companies such as China CCTV broadcast
March 16, 2003	3 consecutive broadcasting stations for 2 consecutive years (Korea KBS, China CCTV, Japan TV Tokyo)
September 28, 2003	The marathon race across the country and held at the Baekje Big Gil Masters Competition Princess
March 26, 2004	The 3rd National Marathon
October 10, 2004	2004 Holding the Marathon in Baekje Village
March 12, 2006	Over 20,000 Masters participants in Korea
Oct. 21, 2007	Revived Gyeongju International Marathon
March 21, 2010	Seoul International Marathon held as the only gold label competition in Korea
Oct 8, 2011	Name changed from Baekje Marathon to the Princess Marathon
March 18, 2012	The highest number of domestic marathon tournaments Wilson Roya na Eeroupe (2:05:37)
Oct 7, 2012	Princess marathon 5km (princess course) was newly established.
2013.3.15	Established Seoul Challenge 10K division