Contributed by CARE Network
Some of the 7,600 runners prepare for the start of the race. (Photo 1 courtesy of CARE Network)
Changi, Sunday, September 5, 2010 — 7,600 runners took part in the second edition of the Yellow Ribbon Prison Run in support of the reintegration of inmates and ex-offenders.
Eunice Nyawira Muchiri won the women’s category in 36 minutes 15 seconds while Thomas Kiprotich, also of Kenya, won the men’s in 32:28.
Muchiri, who has a personal best of 34min, broke away from about the 1km mark. No other female runners stayed with her and she ran with the male competitors.
Kiprotich broke away alone from the start to win the race, although his time was some way outside his PB of 29min. His next closest challenge was Singapore’s Mok Ying Ren who finished second in 35:30.
“I travel all over Asia to compete in races. I currently work as a long-distance running coach in Malacca and came to Singapore just for Yellow Ribbon Prison Run,” said Kiprotich. “The race was fun and the route was good. While there were small hills, it was ok. The marshals were also very helpful.”
Featuring a unique run route, the Yellow Ribbon Prison Run 2010 took runners past several historical sites in the Changi area, including Johore Battery, Changi Chapel Museum and Old Changi Prison Wall. As runners approached the finish line, they entered the conserved old Changi Prison Gatehouse that leads to the new Changi Prison Complex.
About 6,000 runners opted to donate $2 to obtain Yellow Ribbon Shoelaces when registering for the run, with all proceeds going to the Yellow Ribbon Fund. Wearing the shoelaces represents the community’s support for ex-offenders who sincerely want to change and successfully reintegrate back to society.
Started in 2004, the Yellow Ribbon Project is a community initiative in Singapore that aims to create awareness of the need to give second chances to ex-offenders, generate acceptance of ex-offenders and their families in the community, and inspire community action to support the rehabilitation and reintegration of ex-offenders into society.
A total of $110,000 was raised from the run for the Yellow Ribbon Fund.
“We believe that offenders often encounter two prisons. The first is the physical prison; prison officers hold the key to this prison. After release, many ex-offenders step into a second, social and psychological ‘prison’, the key to which is in the hands of family, friends, neighbours, employers and the community at large. In other words, ordinary Singaporeans like you and I,” said Mr Soh Beng Koon, Chairman of the Yellow Ribbon Prison Run Organising Committee.
Results (Men’s Top 10)
1 13198 THOMAS KIPROTICH — 0:32:28
2 11512 MOK YING REN — 0:35:30
3 11481 ANG CHEE YONG — 0:35:54
4 11962 PHILIP.RAMACHANDRAN — 0:36:08
5 11963 MELVIN WONG — 0:36:18
6 13119 RABINDRA — 0:36:31
7 10210 ALDRICH LIM JING HONG — 0:36:35
8 11949 TILAK — 0:36:39
9 12093 JAGAT — 0:36:42
10 12181 SUBRAMANIAM RANGGA — 0:36:46
Results (Women’s Top 10)
1 13308 EUNICE NYAWIRA MUCHIRI — 0:36:40
2 11513 MOK YING RONG — 0:40:41
3 13285 VICTORIA HILL — 0:41:58
4 12180 ANDREA KOVACS — 0:43:01
5 12215 VANESSA — 0:43:12
6 12414 SANNY CHEN — 0:44:57
7 10972 CHERYL CHAN — 0:45:05
8 10277 RODA M. RAMOS — 0:47:00
9 11596 LIN RUN’ER — 0:47:29
10 12788 VERONICA TANG — 0:48:08
The run took in the Changi area took runners past the Johore Battery, Changi Chapel Museum and Old Changi Prison Wall. At the finish line, they entered the conserved old Changi Prison Gatehouse that leads to the new Changi Prison Complex. (Photo 2 courtesy of CARE Network)
Ed’s note: The poll below has been running since June 2008. We add races to the poll only if a second edition is held the following year.
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