Kenya’s Muchiri receives her prize from Pang, as Haidar Khan (third left), witnessed by Muhamad Yakup (third right), Ruslan (second right) and others.

BINTULU (Aug 12): The Bintulu Marathon 2024 concluded yesterday with resounding success, marking a significant milestone in this town’s sports calendar.

This year’s event recorded quite an extraordinary turnout, with 5,800 runners representing 19 countries, far higher than the 3,535 participants registered in the previous year.

The marathon featured four categories: the full marathon (42km) which listed 353 participants, the half marathon (21km) with 1,391 participants, and the 10km run with 957 participants, while the 6km Fun Run involved the largest number of participants, with 3,099 runners.

The 42km Open categories were dominated by Africans.

In the men’s race, Kenya’s Denis Mugendi Kiura emerged winner with a recorded time of 2:23.08 – narrowly edging Wendwesen Tilahun from Ethiopia who clocked 2:23.11.

Another Kenyan, Kennedy Lilan, placed third with a time of 2:23.26.

In the Women’s Open, Eunice Nyawira Muchiri from Kenya won with a time of 2:46.24, with compatriot Peninah Kamau and Ethiopia’s Yeshiemebet Taso Nguse finishing as runners-up, having clocked 2:49.36 and 2:53.27, respectively.

The 43km National categories registered Muhaizar Mohamad as winner of the men’s division, followed by Muhammad Haziq Hamzah and Ahmad Luth Hamizan at respective second and third place.

Tiffany Lee Siok Chin was triumphant in the women’s division, with Tho Siaw Khim and Sally Ann Yap Yu Ing taking the other two spots on the podium.

The 42km Veterans categories were just as competitive, with fellow Kenyans Samson Karega Kamau and Caroline Cherono named the respective winners of the men and women’s divisions.

Trailing behind Kamau were Kenya’s Onesmus Maithya Mathangu and Malaysia’s Mohamad Shawal Roslie, while the runners-up behind Cherono were Mercy Too, also from Kenya, and Tiffany Lee Siok Chin.

In the 21km Men’s Open, Job Minacho Kamonde from Kenya took first place, Kipkemoi Chesang, also from Kenya, place second, and Harresh Ramesh Kumar of Malaysia, third.

This category’s women champion was Chepngetich Langat of Kenya, while Malaysians Puteri Sofia Hanna Abdul Rashid and Nordalela Saidu finished second and third, respectively.

In the 21km Men’s Veterans, the Top 3 were Mohd Harmini Ahmad, Ling Tai Ming and Mohamad Sharif Mohammad Ekbar; while the women’s division listed Jane Jerono Rotich, Lim Siet Fah and Kartini Ahmad Kamal.

In the 10km Men’s Open, Emmanuel Kipronoh from Kenya came out tops, followed by Ryan Victor Bigger of Malaysia and David Kibet of Kenya.

Malaysians dominated the Women’s Open, comprising the winner Linda Chin Hui Ching, and the runners-up, Hii Win Nie and Yunizer Suhaili.

Tanjong Batu assemblyman Johnny Pang Leong Ming in his opening speech said the success of this year’s Bintulu Marathon had set a high standard for future editions, promising even greater participation and more excitement in years to come.

Among those who presented the prizes were Bintulu Development Authority deputy chairman Dato Haidar Khan Asghar Khan, Bintulu Development Authority general manager Datu Muhamad Yakup Kari, and Bintulu Port Holdings Berhad group chief executive officer Ruslan Abdul Ghani.