Allianz Penang Bridge International Marathon attracts 27,500 participants
More than 1,500 foreign participants took part in the race, held at the sea-front of Queensbay in Bayan Baru on Sunday.
The Allianz Penang Bridge International Marathon raced into the Malaysia Book of Records as the largest marathon in the country on Sunday.
The race, which took the participants across Penang Bridge, the longest bridge in Southeast Asia, attracted 27,500 participants.
The previous record was achieved in 2007 with 21,399 runners.
Penang Tourism Development and Culture, Arts and Heritage Committee chairman Danny Law Heng Kiang said more than 1,500 runners from 67 countries took part in four races: the full marathon, the half marathon, the 10km and the fun run in 13 categories.
Factory worker Suhaimi Ibrahim, who ran the half marathon race, got a pleasant surprise when he won the grand prize, a Proton Saga, in the lucky draw contest.
"I will go back home, discuss with my family members, before deciding on what to do next," he said.
Other lucky draw prizes included motorcycles, LCD televisions, mobile phones, electrical appliances and watches.
Fred Lebow, one of the main organisers of the New York City Marathon, said: "In running, it doesn't matter whether you come in first, in the middle of the pack, or last.
"You can say, 'I have finished.' There is a lot of satisfaction in that."
Meanwhile, foreign runners, especially the Kenyans and the Thais, grabbed almost all the top prizes and the cash prizes totalling RM124,900.
Apart from the trophies and cash prizes, the top three winners also received a Nestle hamper and a Titan watch.
In the Men's Malaysian Open full marathon, Shaharudin Hashim clocked two hours 54 minutes 46 seconds to take the first prize of RM3,000.
Muniandy Ramadass came in second in 2:58:49 to collect RM2,000 while Baskaran Kuppusamy took the third spot in 3:02:28 and RM1,000.
Shaharudin, who hails from Penang, said: "My time today (Sunday) was not very good as I suffered from food poisoning a few days back.
"Anyway, I am just happy that I won. My personal best in this race was two hours 33 minutes registered in 2007. This is my third win at the Penang Bridge International Marathon. I participated in three marathons this year and won all of them."
In the Women's Malaysian Open full marathon, Cheah Mei Mei recorded three hours 46 minutes 43 seconds to win the RM3,000 first prize.
Yee Pei Ni received RM2,000 for finishing second in 3:48:17 while Ling Mee Eng was third in 3:49:43 and collected RM1,000.
Penangite Mei Mei said she had run the marathon three times, but this was the first time in Penang.
The self-employed 31-year-old said it was beginner's luck that saw her running in the Penang Bridge International Marathon for the first time and winning it.
Held at the sea-front of Queensbay in Bayan Baru, the event was organised by the State Tourism Development and Culture department with the cooperation of the state government
The race over the iconic Penang bridge was sanctioned by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS), and the Penang Amateur Athletic Association (PAAA), while the official partners were Penang Bridge Sdn Bhd, Malaysian Highway Authority and Penang Island Municipal Council.
Insurance company, Allianz, was the title sponsor while DiGi and HUNZA were the main and co sponsors respectively. CP Landmark Sdn Bhd and New Balance were the venue and apparel sponsors respectively.
The other sponsors included Star Cruises, Salonpas, Century Battery, Plenitude, 100Plus, Sports Toto and Milo with TITAN as the official watch, and Hotel Equatorial Penang as the official hotel.
Boys’ 10km Open 1 Calvin Boon Chang Yik 36:37s, 2 Nattapon Songkhuro (Tha) 37:24, 3 Wittawat Phaisan (Tha) 37:33; Men’s Open 1 Japhet Maiyo (Ken) 33:58, 2 Ruburn Kummar 34:08, 3 Yothin Yaprajan 35:44; Half marathon Men’s Open 1 Stanley Kirwa (Ken) 1:07:17, 2 Ondeiki Mongare Kelvin (Ken) 1:08:14, 3 David Mutai (Ken) 1:08:32; Veteran Open 1 Khir Salleh 1:23:40, 2 Niwat Oithip (Tha) 1:24:58, 3 Charoen Khankaro (Tha) 1:26:24; Full marathon Malaysian Open 1 Shaharudin Hashim 2:54:46, 2 Muniandy Ramadass 2:58:49, 3 Baskaran Kuppusamy 3:02:28; Open 1 Charles Kimutai Kigen (Ken) 2:21:56, 2 Alex Melly (Ken) 2:22:45, 3 Isaac Kiplaget Kimyoc (Ken) 2:24:26; Veteran Open 1 Philip Chirchir Lagat (Ken) 2:45:28, 2 Boonma Jirattigarn (Tha) 2:50:48, 3 Mark Williams (Eng) 2:54:36; Girls’ 10km 1 Sasiwiman Rakhaphan (Tha) 44:55, 2 Phateharaporu Chantarapradit (Tha) 47:28, 3 Preymane Balasubramaniam 48:38; Women’s Open 1 Mattika Rakhaphan (Tha) 42:33, 2 Sanggeetha Subramaniam 43:37, 3 Chong Ah Tin 49:23; Half marathon Open 1 Esther Wambui Karimi (Ken) 1:21:49, 2 Njiha Ann (Ken) 1:22:01, 3 Alice Kabura Njoroge (Ken) 1:25:13; Veteran Open 1 Ng Sun Nee 1:40:03, 2 Kamala Devi Kolantha 1:44:46, 3 Kanlaya Towatcharakan (Tha) 1:45:57; Full marathon Malaysian Open 1 Cheah Mei Mei 3:46:43, 2 Yee Pei Ni 3:48:17, 3 Ling Mee Eng 3:49:43; Open 1 Cheah Mei Mei 3:46:43, 2 Yee Pei Ni 3:48:17, 3 Ling Mee Eng 3:49:43
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