THANKFUL FOR 'SPECIAL' RACE

Elite champ See hails staging of women's run which attracts 4,000 eager entrants

- Kimberly Kwek

Rachel See won the Great Eastern Run (GEWR) Elite Women's 21.1km race on Sunday but it was not just her successful title defence that was a source of joy and relief.

The event also marked the return of the traditional road race for the first time in three years.

It was something that she had missed after the 2020 edition was cancelled owing to the pandemic while the following year's event saw solely the elite-only half-marathon, which featured 15 runners, held in a physical format.

But no roads were closed and the participants started and ended their race at the OCBC Square at the Singapore Sports Hub, with the route taking them along East Coast Park in a loop.

Sunday's edition returned to familiar ground, beginning at Nicoll Highway and finishing at the National Stadium. The other races 5km, 10km and 2km for mothers and daughters aged five to 12 which were virtual last year, were also back to an in-person format.