18 top female runners to feature in competitive modified virtual format of Great Eastern Women's Run 2021
Image via @serenaaateoh Instagram
29 September 2021, Singapore - Team Singapore runners Jasmine Goh and Serena Teoh are among 18 local elite runners who have been invited to compete in this year's Great Eastern Women's Run virtual half-marathon.
The competitive event, which will be held separately from the virtual run for public, will provide Singapore's top female runners with a safe racing environment, with all competitors clocking their race between 6am and 9am on Sunday, 14 November.
Upon completion the runners, who will be running with wearables, are required to submit their results digitally where their run time (duration and pace) distance, route and heart rate will be verified.
The event will be held in conjunction with the all-women’s virtual run for public, with public participants being allowed up to a month to clock in the distances they’ve chosen.
Some of the top local runners who will be featuring this year include SEA Games representatives Jasmine Goh (2016 GEWR champion), Rachel See (2017 GEWR silver medalist), Serena Teoh (SEA Games 2019 representative) and Olympian Neo Jie Shi (2018 GEWR bronze medalist).
Image via @go_jasminegoh Instagram
Jasmine Goh, who has participated in the GEWR since 2012, said: "We’ve missed competing and while this race will be without traditional race elements such as a flag-off and finish line, it is no less of a contest."
"We will still be competing against the other runners on the same day, only in a socially-distant and safer manner," she added. "We are thankful to Great Eastern for adapting to the challenges the pandemic has thrown our way and for providing us the opportunity to race again."
Organisers Great Eastern have had to come up with creative solutions with the ever evolving COVID-19 situation, and have arrived at a modified format which they hope to keep as close to a race setting as possible, while ensuring the safety of all participants.
Image via Great Eastern Women's Run
Colin Chan, Managing Director, Group Marketing, Great Eastern, said: "We hope this opportunity to compete in a simulated race setting will help our local athletes achieve their sporting goals. We will continue to monitor the Covid-19 developments closely, and will reinstate the features of a full race for these 18 elite runners should the situation allow it."
The local elite runners will also be leading a fund-raising initiative where donated monies will go towards the two selected beneficiaries – Breast Cancer Foundation (BCF) and Daughters Of Tomorrow (DOT).
Members of the public can support these causes via the Great Eastern Cares fundraising page here.