Monday, December 14, 2015

SINGAPORE INTERNATIONAL MARATHON1994 - 2HRS 34MIN 02SEC

Note:

If you are keen and have queries, please contact Coach Rameshon at 9100 4369 or you can email him at m.rameshon@gmail.com or swift.rameshon@gmail.com. Please refer to website http://flexifitness.com.sg (for more information on him and his programmes)

By Murugiah Rameshon
Bsc (Hons) Degree in Physical Education, Loughborough University (1992-1994)
Masters in Education (University of Western Australia, 2005-2008)

4TH DEC 1994 - Remembering the Past.

1995 SEA Games Time photo 


















Toh So Liang, the former National Record holder is considered Singapore's greatest contributor to the marathon by me for the women's race. I have gone for several races overseas races as she was the fastest female marathon runner at that time. She had been running for a very long time as an accomplished marathon runner. She is well known for doing well in overseas marathon races as well. As an introduction, I have with me an article that, fortunately, had been in my archived file. For the benefit of marathon runners, I realised that it would be a good idea to share with the marathon fraternity and those who like running, on the report in Sport Singapore on Friday, 9th May 1994.

The race I am publishing was the Singapore International Marathon 1994. This timing is my personal best for a Singaporean running in Singapore in the Men's Open category.

In this race, I remember making a mistake of going for 44km on one Sunday, a week before the 1994 Singapore International Marathon race. Towards the marathon race, I could feel my calf ache. It was at the half-way mark that my calf started to ache a lot and the last 10km, I could only manage to do a 2hr 34min 02sec, instead of a targeted 2hr 32min. In 1995, I was able to do a 2hr 24min 22sec in 1995 Chiengmai South East Asian Games. where fellow female runner by the name of Yvonne Danson won silver for her race in 2hr 34min and broke the National record as well. 


Report from ISSUE OF SPORT SINGAPORE    09/05/1994

Singapore hopes of athletic glory may well be in the most physical, mental and emotional event in track and field - the marathon.

The gruelling 42-kilometre event which was the Singapore International Marathon 1994 last Sunday saw Murugiah Rameshon clocking a great time of 2hr 34mins 02 sec to win the men's local division of the biennial run.

Murugiah Rameshon can take great pride in his triumph which was his best-ever finish following his runner-up finish in the 1990 Marathon for he finished 10min clear of second-placed Khoo Chin Poo and a further two minutes ahead of defending local champion Tan Choon Ghee.

And Murugiah's time saw him finish 12th in the Open Division to champion Australian Robert Leslie Nolan who clocked 2hrs 22min 40sec, almost two minutes ahead of China's Dong Jianmin who pipped Belgium's Peter De Vocht for second place.

In the women's local division, Toh So Liang ran a comfortable race to bag her second Singapore International Marathon in 3hr 04min 56sec, some 18mins ahead of Irene Chau and 28 ahead of third-placed Lim Bee Chan

Winner of the event in 1990 in a much faster time of 2hr 57min 43sec, So Liang's effort was still good enough to put her in eighth place in the Open Division which was won by Holland's Mieke Hombergen who finished in 2hrs 50min 38sec, more than a minute clear of the tiring Liu Yuying of China who almost collapsed two metres before the finishing tape.

Some 4000 runners including wheelchair-bound athletes began the race which started at 5.30am in the morning from Stadium Boulevard, along the east coast for the route that brought them all around the perimeter of the island and back to the National Stadium.

Men's Open International Category
1. AUS 2hr 22min 40sec Robert Leslie Nolan
2. CHN 2hr 24min 22sec Dong Jianmin
3. BEL  2hr 24min 41sec Peter De Vocht

Men's Open (Local) 
1. 2hr 34min 02sec Murugiah Rameshon (Int 12th)
2. 2hr 44min 46sec Khoo Chin Poo
3. 2hr 46min 10sec Tan Choon Ghee

Women's Open (Local)
1. 3hr 04min 56sec Toh So Liang
2. 3hr 22min 24sec Irene Chua
3. 3hr 32min 08sec Lim Bee Chan



Note:

By Narayanan
Rameshon has taught in Hwa Chong Institution, plus several schools, and Republic Polytechnic as well. He has won many accolades and he was awarded Merit Award for 1991 marathon performance in breaking the national record of Singapore, at that time. He has made 22 male athletes do a marathon in sub-3hrs. He has made 7 female runners do sub-4 hours for the marathon, as well. He was inducted to the ‘Roll of Honour’  by the then College of Physical Education, organised by Singapore Olympic Academy, in 1998, for breaking the National record repeatedly 4 times, till he did 2hr 24min 22sec).

He also has a Coaching group and he trains them on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7pm at Botanic Gardens. Those interested can call him at 91004369 for coaching assistance, to improve performance. There is also personal training that he does for many in a week. You can e-mail him at swift.rameshon@gmail.com.