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Soh sets up SEA Games fight

SINGAPORE — The tussle for the marathon gold medal at next year’s SEA Games could prove an exciting one for home fans, with United States-based Soh Rui Yong set to give reigning champion Mok Ying Ren a run for his money.

SINGAPORE — The tussle for the marathon gold medal at next year’s SEA Games could prove an exciting one for home fans, with United States-based Soh Rui Yong set to give reigning champion Mok Ying Ren a run for his money.

Running in the California International Marathon yesterday morning, national 10,000m record holder Soh clocked an impressive 2hr 26min 01 sec to finish fifth in the men’s 20- to 24-year-old category, and was placed 37th overall.

That means the University of Oregon business undergraduate has met the qualifying mark of 2:30:30 for the SEA Games, which is pegged at the bronze medal time from the 2013 Games.

It was an impressive debut marathon for the 23-year-old who only started training for the 42.195km distance in July. More importantly, Soh’s time puts him in contention for gold, alongside defending champion Mok who has yet to qualify.

Last December, Mok won Singapore’s first SEA Games men’s marathon title in Naypyidaw with a time of 2:28:36.

Soh’s California achievement is the season’s best by a Singaporean runner, and ranks second behind Murugiah Rameshon’s national record time of 2:24:22 clocked in Chiangmai in 1995.

While the chatter in the fraternity may now be focused on the battle for gold between the duo, Soh insisted yesterday the friendly rivalry can only be a boon for local track and field.

Speaking to TODAY in a phone interview from Sacramento, Soh said: “I’m definitely happy with my time, as coming into the race, my only goal was to go faster than 2:30. I’m ready for my chance to fight for a medal at the SEA Games.

“First, Mok has to qualify for the Games and I hope he makes it because then we will have a strong team. If all goes well, hopefully we can get a gold and silver for Singapore. But it will not be easy as Indonesia and Philippines will be strong and everyone will be going for gold.”

While Soh had toyed with the idea of competing in both the 10,000m and marathon, he has since ruled that out.

“The marathon is going to be on the first day of competition (June 6), so I will be too tired to run the 10,000m,” he said. “I think I am stronger in the marathon, particularly after my performance in my first marathon, and I really enjoy running in this event.”

On Sunday, 26-year-old Mok won the Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore local men’s race on his competitive comeback from a shin injury suffered in July. His time of 2:53:42 is way off the 2:26:30 personal best set at the Gold Coast Marathon in 2013, though his plan is to meet the qualifying mark next year.

“Rui Yong’s time will definitely be a boost for the SEA Games as both of us are quite on par in terms of standard and we will be able to push each other,” said Mok.

“It is good hearing about Rui Yong’s performance and it shows that training overseas under the guidance of a serious coach helps in long distance running performance.”

With SEA Games qualification in the bag, Soh is holding off on full marathons until next year’s Games, and will train and compete in the 10,000m and half marathon. While he is eyeing Rameshon’s 19-year national mark, Soh is focused on the task at hand.

“Ultimately it is about getting a medal at the SEA Games, whether it is gold, silver or bronze, but preferably the gold. The national record will be a bonus,” he said.

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