Over 4,000 runners brave historic Miri Marathon
MIRI: Miri Marathon 2017 - the ciy’s first official full marathon event - saw more than 4,000 local and international runners from Sarawak, Sabah, Brunei, Peninsula Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, China, Japan, Kenya, Ethiopia and the United States.
They took part in races for four distances: 42, 21, 10 and 5km.
The full marathon (42km) took off at 1.30am in front of Miri Stadium.
At 5am. Piasau assemblyman Sebastian Tan f lagged off and participated in the 21km race.
Mayor A d am Yi i l at e r officiated in sending off runners in the 10km event and 5km fun run.
Assistant Minister Datuk Lee Kim Shin, who was represented by his special assistant Eric Chin, commended organisers for their success in attracting the large number of foreign and local participants.
The men’s open marathon was won by Stephen Mungathiam who clocked 2hr 25min 33sec while Irene Kemunto Mogaka finished first in the women’s race in 2hr 58: 05.
Former SEA Games middle di s t a nc e champi on a nd Sarawakian Mohd Jironi Riduan was the first Malaysian to finish the 42km event in 2hr 40: 24.
The first Malaysian woman to complete the distance was Hyenie Roslin Danius who was timed at 3hr 45: 38.
The men and women’s veteran winners were Prasoet Phaisan ( 3hr 08.00) and Yeung Mei Lun (4hr 05: 56).
Top finishers for the 21km were John Waithaka Njihia (men open) in 1hr 20: 37, Ann Njihia (women open) in 1hr 26: 06, Lee Kim Hing ( men veteran) in 1hr 31: 57 and Hamisah Antahar (women veteran) in 1hr 53:10.
Soh Wai Chin ( 34: 24sec) and Jenni fer Sia ( 47: 55sec) won the men’s and women’s 10km event.