Kenyans conquer Men’s Open half-marathon
KUCHING: Joseph Mwangi Ngare of Kenya emerged champion of the annual ‘ tHe Spring’s Live Active Run 2016, which hosted 3,044 runners from Kuching, Sibu, Sabah, Kuala Lumpur and also from Kenya and Japan this year.
The race was flagged off early yesterday at the mall’s premier parking lot.
Ngare clocked a time of one hour, eight minutes and 16 seconds in the 21km Men’s Open category, earning him the half-marathon prizes of RM3,000, a trophy and a Top 100 finisher shirt.
His fellow countrymen John Muiruri Mburu and Mathew Nganga Njuguna finished second and third in the same category, clocking in at one hour, nine minutes and 22 seconds and one hour, nine minutes and 51 seconds, respectively.
As the runners-up, Mburu and Njuguna took home RM2,000 and RM1,500, respectively, as well as a trophy and Top 100 finisher shirt each.
Meanwhile Christabel Lim topped the 21km Women’s Open category, with a time of one hour, 58 minutes and 24 seconds. Ho Hie Knew followed behind recording two hours, two minutes and 26 seconds, while third finisher Jessie Wong clocked two hours, eight minutes and 30 seconds.
They pocketed RM3,000, RM2,000 and RM1,500, respectively, along with a trophy and Top 100 finisher shirt each.
In the 10km Men’s Open category, Mohd Feldarus Abdul Rahman emerged victorious, followed by Yen Boon Chong and Sunny Jong Shi Xian as runners-up.
The 10km Women’s Open category was conquered by Careen Cheptoeck, Leh Ha Lee and Yieng Nyuk Hii as runners-up.
The champions of both categories each won RM1,000, first runnerup RM500 and second runner-up, RM300.
This year’s event also introduced new categories —21km Veteran’s Run and 10km Veteran’s Run, with the oldest runner being 72 years old.
Khoon Hiong Kho and Mee Eng Ling were the winners for the 21km Veteran’s Men and Women’s categories, respectively, while the 10km Veteran’s Men and Women champions were Jack Tze Hian Teo and Siew Jin Eng, respectively.
Each winner of the Veteran’s 21km and 10km running events bagged RM1,000 and RM500, respectively, along with a trophy and Top 50 finisher shirt.
There were also the 5km Fun Run and 1km Kids Dash categories yesterday.
The Spring’s Live Active Run, which entered its fifth edition this year, was set up with an aim to promote community involvement and participation through sports and fitness activities.