Merrill wins local 'Chicago Run"

JAKARTA: Reed Merrill of the United States clocked the best time of four hours, 47 minutes and 48.83 seconds to win the Far East Chicago Marathon in Anyer of Banten province on Sunday.

Peter King of Australia finished second in 5:14:18.81 followed by Christianto of Indonesia in 5:19:31.92, according the organizing committee here on Monday.

Eleven runners -- nine Indonesians, one American and one Australian -- started off on the 26.2 mile marathon along the Labuan-Anyer main road. They crossed the finish line in Anyer and rewarded themselves with the facilities offered at a restaurant equipped with a Jacuzzi, sauna, massage center.

The Chicago Marathon in the Far East is staged every year at the same time as the Chicago Marathon in Boston, whose Sunday's run was won by first-time marathoner Evans Rutto of Kenya in the men's category and reigning champion Svetlana Zakharova of Russia in the women's category. --JP