Mumbai Marathon: For Jayashree Borge, her best is not enough

Maharashtra girl Jayashree Borge went into the women’s half marathon as the defending champion.

She had won the 2010 run by clocking 1:26.06 and she managed to improve her timing this time around to 1:24.43 but had to settle for a third place.

Priyanka Singh Patel from Banaras with a timing of 1:22.34 came first, while Azamgarh’s Sangeeta Yadav came second with the timing of 1:23.45.

Priyanka was way behind the meet record of 1:16.37 set by Asian Games silver medalist Kavita Raut in 2008, but it was still a commendable feat for the UP girl, who is principally a 3,000 meters steeple chase runner.

Both Priyanka and Sangeeta were contesting only in their second half marathon. They had earlier participated in the Delhi marathon in November last year.

Jayashree was not too disappointed with the result even though she ended two places lower than last year. “The competition was very tough this year. I am pleased that I have improved my timings,” said the Kolhapur girl.

She gave credit to her preparation and the competition for her improved performance.

“Since there were two runners ahead of me I kept pushing myself unlike last year when I knew I was winning. I have been training a lot for this race and the University event which also paid off,” she said.

The 21-year-old is a second year BA student and recently won the 5,000 meter run in the All-India inter-university championships in Guntur.

“Events like the Mumbai Marathon are a great experience and there is attractive prize money as well but the University events are vital in order to get a job. Hence, I participated in the competition even though it was just a couple of days before the marathon.”

The Kolhapur girl said that she will invest the entire $900 she has won for her training. “May be I will run in the full marathon in two years time,” she said.