The 12th Laguna Phuket Marathon took place 3rd and 4th June, 2017 and is organised by leading sports management company Go Adventure Asia with professional timing and results by Sportstats Asia, ensuring the highest of international standards.
PHUKET, Thailand – The 12th Laguna Phuket Marathonwelcomed almost 7,000 runners to the shores of Phuket for a record-breaking event. The sixth consecutive increase in participant turnout saw more than 50 countries taking part this year in what has become South East Asia’s leading destination marathon and Phuket’s largest annual sports event.
Organised by Go Adventure Asia and hosted by Laguna Phuket, the run course is famous for its beauty, taking runners along quiet lanes, through Sirinat National Park and along Bang Tao beachfront before returning to Laguna Phuket and the finish line.
Last year organisers expanded the event to take place over two days, and did so again this year. The two day format allows organisers to provide the best possible course for runners and maximise the runner experience for all. More than 3,000 “sunset” runners competed in the afternoon of Saturday 3rd June in the 5km and 10.5km distances, with almost 300 kids enjoying the 2km Kids Run, while at “sunrise” on Sunday 4th June almost 4,000 runners lined-up for the Half Marathon and Marathon distances.
With so many countries taking part, the podiums were multinational.
In the Marathon distance it was Nakajima Hiroki (JPN) who dominated the men’s field, beating last year’s time, and finishing in 02:34:57.6 – more than 30 minutes head of second placer David Escolar Ballesteros from Spain.
Nakajima Hiroki from Japan won the Marathon at the 2017 Laguna Phuket Marathon
Recently married, Nakajima was on his honeymoon with his new wife Inoue Tomomi, who is also a Marathon runner, and in true couple style she won the women’s division! She also dominated the field to win in a time of 03:10:34.6.
Fresh from second place in the 10.5km on the Saturday, Thai runner Danchai Pumkong went one better the next day winning the Half Marathon and adding this to his collection of wins at Laguna Phuket Marathon which also includes the 2012 Marathon crown.
It was a Thai 1,2,3 in the Half Marathon with Phuket native Rattakarn Lamanee, who was the 5km winner on Saturday, finishing an impressive third in the Half Marathon. Another popular Thai runner at Laguna Phuket Marathon, Rattakarn won the 10.5km in 2016.
In the women’s field, Australian triathlete Elle Brookes claimed the Half Marathon crown ahead of Thai runners Sukanya Srisawad and Patteera Ruengjai who finished in second and third respectively.
International runners dominated in the 10.5km this year with Singaporean Marcus Ong winning the men’s title while Phuket-based professional triathlete Immogen Simmons from Great Britain, dominated the women’s division.
Australian Hayley Newman claimed the 5km women’s crown.
Joining the impressive line-up of top Thai and international athletes, competing this year for the first time was Paralympic marathon champion and world-record holder, Mr Eitan Hermon from Israel, who ran the Half Marathon and finished 13 overall, as well as Patcharasri “Kalamare” Benjamas – the famous TV host and MC – who competed in the 10.5km, Thai rock star “Toon Body Slam“, who raced the Marathon, and the Governor of Phuket Province, Norraphat Plodthong, who completed the 10.5km.
Sanctioned by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races, the 12th Laguna Phuket Marathon took place 3rd and 4th June, 2017 and is organised by leading sports management company Go Adventure Asia with professional timing and results by Sportstats Asia, ensuring the highest of international standards.
Dates are set for next year, the 13th edition – 9th and 10th June, 2018.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
