Pak Chol (Korean: 박철, Korean pronunciation: [pak̚.tsʰʌl]; born 8 November 1990) is a North Korean long-distance runner.[1] He represents the Sajabong Sports Team.[2]

Pak Chol
Pak Chol running
Pak Chol at the 2014 Pyongyang Marathon
Personal information
Born (1990-11-08) 8 November 1990 (age 33)
Sport
Country North Korea
SportAthletics
EventMarathon
TeamSajabong Sports Team
Achievements and titles
World finals
  • 2015: Marathon – 11th
Highest world ranking11th (marathon, 2015)
Personal bestMarathon: 2:12:26
Korean name
Chosŏn'gŭl
박철
Revised RomanizationBak Cheol
McCune–ReischauerPak Ch'ŏl
IPApak̚.tsʰʌl
Updated on 27 August 2015.

Pak won the Pyongyang Marathon on 13 April 2014 with a personal best of 2:12:26. The winning time was an improvement of more than a minute from his previous personal best which earned him the fifth place in the same race in 2013.[3] In 2015, he came second in the 15th Asian Marathon Championship in Hong Kong with a season's best[4] of 2:16:09.[5] He took part in the marathon at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing the same year and placed 11th with a time of 2:15:44, a new season's best.[6]

In 2016 Pak Chol won the Pyongyang Mangyongdae Marathon in a time of 2:14:11. He then went on to represent his country in the men's marathon at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games. Pak Chol placed 27th in 2:15:27; the race was won by Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge in 2:08:44.[7]

In 2017 Pak successfully defended his title, winning the Pyongyang Mangyongdae Prize Marathon in 2:14:56.[8] In November Pak Chol competed in the Asian Marathon Championships in Dongguan, China. He finished 4th in a time of 2:16:19.

In 2018 Pak Chol represented his country at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia in the men's marathon. He finished 10th in 2:36:22.[9]

Achievements edit

Year Competition Venue Position Event Notes
2013 Pyongyang Marathon Pyongyang, North Korea 5th Marathon 2:13:49[1]
2014 Pyongyang Marathon Pyongyang, North Korea 1st Marathon 2:12:26[1]
2015 Asian Marathon Championship Hong Kong 2nd Marathon 2:16:09[1][5]
World Championships Beijing, China 11th Marathon 2:15:44[6]
2016 Pyongyang Marathon Pyongyang, North Korea 1st Marathon 2:14:10[10]
2017 Pyongyang Marathon Pyongyang, North Korea 1st Marathon 2:14:56[11]
2018 Asian Games Jakarta, Indonesia 10th Marathon 2:29:07

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d "IAAF: Athlete profile for Chol Pak". iaaf.org. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  2. ^ Pak Jang Chol (19 April 2014). "Amateur runners join in Mangyongdae Prize marathon race". The Pyongyang Times. Naenara. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  3. ^ Minshull, Phil (13 April 2014). "IAAF: Chol and Gyong take the honours in Pyongyang". iaaf.org. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  4. ^ "Start list — Marathon Men — Final" (PDF). iaafbeijing2015.com. 22 August 2015. p. 2. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  5. ^ a b "15th Asian Marathon Championship 2015- Hong Kong". athleticsasia.org. Asian Athletics Association. 2015. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  6. ^ a b "Results — Marathon Men — Final" (PDF). iaafbeijing2015.com. 22 August 2015. p. 1. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
  7. ^ "Marathon Result | the XXXI Olympic Games".
  8. ^ "Chol and Ok take the honours in Pyongyang | REPORTS | World Athletics".
  9. ^ "Chol PAK | Profile | World Athletics".
  10. ^ "More Than 1,600 Runners Take Part in Pyongyang Marathon". VOA. Associated Press. 10 April 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
  11. ^ Ramsak, Bob (9 April 2017). "Chol and Ok take the honours in Pyongyang". IAAF. Retrieved 16 May 2017.

External links edit