Cosmas Matolo Muteti from Kenya Dethrones Five-time champion Kennedy Kiproo Lilan in Standard Chartered KL Marathon 2017

Kuala Lumpur, 21 May 2017 - Close to 36,000 runners converged on Dataran Merdeka to take part in the 9th edition of the Standard Chartered KL Marathon today. Cosmas Matolo Muteti,from Kenya won the Full Marathon Men’s Open category in a time of 2:18:43 to take home USD17,500.



Five-time champion Kennedy Kiproo Lilan from Kenya came in second in the Full Marathon Men’s Open with a time of 2:19:35 while Tonui Kiprop from Kenya finished third in a time of 2:20:36. FM Open winner Cosmas, was delighted that he not only won the title but recorded a personal best while fighting off multiple winner Kennedy. “I was running against strong opponents but I kept to my game plan and really enjoyed the run through some great scenery,” he said.



The Full Marathon Women’s Open category was won by Elizabeth Chepkanan from Kenya in a time of 2:36:14 also earning USD17,500 in the process. Vikoti Chepkemoi from Kenya took second place in a time of 2:40:08 and Zeritu Begashaw Wakijira from Ethiopia had to settle for third place with a time of 2:42:56.



The Full Marathon Malaysian Men’s category saw a close battle between defending champion Muhaizar Mohamad and Leo Tan Huong Leong. These two vastly improved runners were neck to neck until close to the finish when Muhaizar eventually repeated his triumph in last year’s Standard Chartered KL Marathon with an improved time and personal best of 2:35:55. Leo narrowly finished second in a time of 2:38:06 and Ow Yong Jin Kuan came in third in 2:43:45.



The Full Marathon Malaysian Women’s category was clinched by Yuan Yufang in a time of 3:23:00, while Loh Chooi Fern clocked 3:25:55 to come in second and Chua Khit Yeng got third place in a time of 3:33:46



Muhaizar was also thrilled to have retained his title, especially after the tough competition with Leo. “It was a hard race but I’m very happy to have defended my title and even happier to record another personal best at the Standard Chartered KL Marathon,” he said.

Rainer Biemans, Project Director of SCKLM and Director of Dirigo Events, added “We are extremely pleased to have pulled off SCKLM 2017 without any major hiccups and we hope that all our runners had a memorable run and a great experience overall. It is gratifying to receive such support from the local and international running fraternity and we are committed to continually improve on all aspects of this event and look forward to welcoming all of you for our 10th anniversary in 2018.”

Mahendra Gursahani, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Standard Chartered Bank said, “As title sponsor, we are delighted to be able to play a part in empowering people from all walks of life to make a difference through this amazing event. There are inspiring stories everywhere today and this is a testament to the power of the Marathon. Congratulations to all our winners and our sincere appreciation goes out to all participants for their tremendous support.”



This was exemplified by more than 30 visually impaired runners who took part in the 5km Fun Run, along with volunteer “running buddies” from Standard Chartered Bank. 20 autistic children from Permata Kurnia and over 100 underprivileged kids from Sivanandha Home and Care2run also participated in the race across various categories. Standard Chartered KL Marathon’s Run For A Reason charity initiative remains an integral part of the event, channelling funds raised to deserving charities that assist underprivileged communities and those in dire need. This year the participating beneficiaries were the Standard Chartered Foundation, National Cancer Society of Malaysia, Dignity for Children Foundation and Hospis Malaysia.

Efforts to make the Marathon more competitive, like having a seven-hour cut-off time and route checkpoints appear to be paying dividends as more than 8,000 runners signed up for the Full Marathon category this year. There were also close to 1700 running tourists from 52 countries and 75 nationalities taking part making SCKLM a truly international event. SCKLM was also the first stop in Englishman Andy Dukes’ epic marathon ride around the world on his BMW motorbike while running in six marathons in six continents.

SCKLM 2017 Race Day was preceded by the Race Entry Pack Collection from 18-20 May which was a bigger affair this year with the inclusion of the Prudential Healthy Life Expo, as well as the Friendship Run and Pasta breakfast on 20 May which saw Full Marathoners from Malaysia and around the world gather for a warm-up run and mingle in a more social setting.

Apart from the Full and Half Marathons, the Standard Chartered KL Marathon 2017 also featured a 10km distance and a 5km Fun Run for social runners, along with Kids’ Dash categories for children under 12 years of age. There were also several categories like the Corporate Challenge, Media Challenge, Universities Challenge and Ministries Challenge to either raise money for charity as well as provide friendly competition and bragging rights for the eventual winners.

The Standard Chartered KL Marathon has grown to become the premier running event in Malaysia, drawing thousands of local and international runners to the country whilst firmly establishing Malaysia in the global running calendar. The 2017 edition of the race once again saw Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia returning as title sponsor, along with a host of returning and new sponsors, including Honda, Seiko, Brooks, Lucozade and Pacific Regency. The event is owned and organised by Dirigo Events with co-organiser Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur.

Standard Chartered KL Marathon is sanctioned and supported by Malaysia Athletics Federation (MAF), Federal Territory Kuala Lumpur Athletic Federation (FTKLAA), International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and Association of International Marathons, Distance Races (AIMS).

Watch the full press conference below:

Win! Passes to THE PUMA NIGHT RUN MALAYSIA 2017

Fresh from its roaring success last year, PUMA Malaysia is all set to bring it to the next level with the fourth edition of the PUMA Night Run on 5 August in Cyberjaya. With RM16,500 worth of prizes to be won, the run is looking to attract 12,000 participants this year.

PUMA Night Run 2017 will also be the first time for the run to have two running categories to choose from as there will be a 6KM run for the fun and leisurely runners, as well as a 12KM run for the seasoned competitive runners.

The top 3 finishers of the 12KM men and women categories will each receive RM 2,500, RM 2,000 and RM 1,500 worth of PUMA vouchers respectively. On the other hand, the winners of the 6KM men and women categories will go home with RM 1,000, RM 750 and RM 500 worth of PUMA vouchers respectively.



The entry fee for the PUMA Night Run Malaysia 2017 is set at RM 119 for 12KM and RM 89 for 6KM (All prices are exclusive of GST). Upon successful registration, all participants would receive the PUMA Race Kit which includes a PUMA Night Run tee, PUMA towel, PUMA shoe bag, finisher’s medal (to be given after the race) and other sponsored freebies. In addition to that, PUMA is also loading up the Race Kits with some super cool goodies such as glow in the dark shoe laces, LED arm bands and glow sticks to add to the fun.



PUMA is known as one of the pioneers in the night running scene having first introduced the run in 2014 as a platform for runners from all walks of life to celebrate the joy of running and experience a carnival-like atmosphere filled with activities and performances. The run will end with the ultimate after-run music performance, featuring Singaporean Kpop artist Gen Neo and renowned local artist, Black.

PUMA has also released the official full-length video that captured all the fun and excitement from last year’s PUMA Night Run Malaysia, which can be view here. Registration for the PUMA Night Run Malaysia 2017 is now open and participants can register via www.puma-nightrun.com.my.



CONTEST:

Be part of this action by winning a 12 km slot for yourself! There are four (4) passes to be won in this easy contest!

Step 1: LIKE https://www.facebook.com/celebrunner/

Step 2: Give two (2) advantages of running at night.

Step 3: Complete this slogan: I want to experience the PUMA NIGHT RUN because... (in less than 30 words)

Step 4: Email your slogan to runwitme@gmail.com with the subject PUMA NIGHT RUN (include your Full name, IC number and phone number)

Four (4) best slogans will be picked as the winners of this contest after the closing date 27 May 12:00 pm. So hurry! Winners will be contacted via email. So keep your inbox clear.

P.S.P King of Forest 2017

Fancy a trail run right in the middle of the city? Look no further than the P.S.P King of (sic) Forest.

Pantai Sentral Park (PSP) is a new township in the prestigious enclave of Bangsar South, an urban forest city with an upcoming development of 13 blocks of stylishly-designed residential & commercial towers. Estimated to be completed in 2030, it is touted to be the one and only urban forest city in Pantai Sentral Park.

P.S.P King of Forest 2017

Flag Time :
7.05am (Wave 1: 7.2km Forest Run) | FULL
7.30am (Wave 2: 7.2km Forest Run) | Open registration on 15 May
7:45am (5km Fun Run) | Limited slot now!




Official Partner & Title Sponsor: IJM Land
Official Venue Sponsor: Pantai Sentral Park
Organizer : CentriSoh MY
Race Technical Support : Pacemakers Malaysia

In collaboration with: Astro Radio Sdn Bhd, UBER, 2Cents magazine, NU Infinity Sdn Bhd, Asti Cycle Works (Ducati, Colosi, Araya), JVC, Pearl Holiday

F & B partners: Mocktail Bar, Origins Coffee Pouches, N8 Nutrition, Nestle Ice Cream



Official Apparel: Ultron
Official Portal: Checkpoint Spot Asia
Official Watch Sponsor: GARMIN
Official Footwear Sponsor: Merrell
Official Isotonic drink: 100Plus
Charitable Organization: National Cancer Society Malaysia

Registration here now -> https://goo.gl/f5SW90

Sempoi Charity Fun Walk @ KL Bird Park

Kuala Lumpur, 29 March 2017 – Sempoi Charity announced a fun walk to be held on the 15th of July 2017 today. The fun walk is organised by
Sempoi Charity in collaboration with the Kuala Lumpur Bird Park as coorganizer & venue sponsor and #AboutKL to raise funds for charity. The General Manager of Kuala Lumpur Tourism Bureau, Encik Khairul Anuar Bin Md. Juri was present at the announcement to lend his support towards the event.

Sempoi Charity Fun Walk @ KL Bird Park is a first of its kind public fundraising event. The walk aims to bring together 2000 participants to the Kuala Lumpur Bird Park in a bid to raise funds for charity whilst creating awareness on the importance of preserving nature, its diverse flora and fauna especially birds and promote a healthy, active and fulfilling lifestyle for city dwellers through a fun walk.

According to President of Sempoi Charity, Mr Mike Manicka, the Kuala Lumpur Bird Park is an apt venue for the fun walk as it houses a wide species of
birds native to Malaysia in a lush natural setting right in the heart of the city.

In addition, the fun walk also serves as a ready platform for corporate companies to make corporate contributions as part of their CSR initiative. Companies can help raise funds by taking up various sponsorship opportunities available including sponsorship of participation for children from homes and orphanages. In his speech, Mr Mike Manicka, President of Sempoi Charity urged corporate companies and individuals to come forward and support the fun walk to hand in hand raise funds and make a difference for the betterment of the community as a whole.

The objective of the fun walk is predominantly to raise funds for charity. Sempoi Charity hopes to raise enough funds to support three (3) of its
new initiatives this year. Funds raised through the fun walk will be channelled to JKOASM (Jaringan Kampung Orang Asli Malaysia) for their educational outreach programmes. JKOASM is an NGO made out entirely of volunteers working with the Orang Asli community.

Some of their educational outreach programmes includes women’s empowerment workshops, youth leadership workshops and basic computer skills training to help the Orang Asli community to obtain basic skills, knowledge and confidence to be self-sufficient. Funds will also be used to support Sempoi Sahur – a street feeding programme to feed the homeless and destitute living on the streets of Kuala Lumpur during the month of Ramadhan and SC Cares for Kids through a graffiti mural art project at various schools for disabled children.

Sempoi Charity aims to raise RM15,000 to benefit JKOASM, feed and provide toiletry kits for 500 homeless individuals and paint 3 graffiti murals at schools for disabled children. Sempoi Charity also announced its partner and sponsors who have pledged their support for the fun walk thus far which includes the Kuala Lumpur Bird Park as venue sponsor, #AboutKL as event partner, WABS as sponsorship partner, CIME as creative agency, Gaya Travel as magazine partner, KPJ as medical partner and Ice Mountain & 100 Plus as official drink partner. Other supporting partners for the event are Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL), Kuala Lumpur Tourism Bureau (KLTB), TwentyFirst Century Sport and TL Impressions who have made contributions in both cash and kind.

Sempoi Charity Fun Walk@KL Bird Park is divided into two (2) categories - Adult for individuals aged 18 years old & above and Family, comprising of 1 Adult and 1 child aged between 5 to 17 years old.

Registration fee for the Adult category is at RM80 and Family category is at RM150. Finishers will receive a medal and goody bag. Registrations to participate will be open from 31st March 2017 onwards via our online registration partner at http://www.twentyfirstcenturysports.com/event/sempoi-charity-fun-walk/

Nike Announces Its Breaking2 Race Date and What You Need To Know To Watch It

On Saturday May 6 at 5:45 AM in Monza, Italy (Saturday, May 6, 12:45 PM Malaysian time), Eliud Kipchoge, Lelisa Desisa and Zersenay Tadese will attempt to break the two-hour marathon barrier. Though the event is closed to the public, anyone with Internet access can experience the excitement by tuning into Nike’s live stream of the attempt.



Watch it as it happens
First, sign up HERE to receive a notification reminder for when the attempt is happening. Live Breaking2 coverage will begin about 15 minutes before race start. Sal Masekela will host the show while Paula Radcliffe, Craig Masback and Kevin Hart will provide commentary. Other special guests will make appearances throughout the broadcast.

You can access the show through two of Nike’s social platforms:
1) Nike’s Breaking2 landing page on Twitter: You don’t need a Twitter handle or login to watch from here. Because Nike will be live tweeting the event from this handle, this will be the most informative and robust viewing experience.

2) Nike's Breaking2 Facebook page: You will need a Facebook login to view the livestream on this platform. And if for any reason you miss the stream, you can replay the attempt here for up to one week after the event ends.

Nike will also share live and behind-the-scenes moments around the attempt via its @nike Instagram handle. Follow #Breaking2 and tweet @nike and #Breaking2Alerts for live updates on the race. You'll also be able to use a custom Nike Vaporfly Elite shoe emoji on Twitter.

Keep an eye out for the documentary
The powerful journey of the Breaking2 program concludes later this summer with a feature-length documentary produced in partnership with National Geographic.

For additional info on the live stream of Breaking2, do visit the link below:
http://news.nike.com/news/how-to-watch-nike-breaking2-sub-2-marathon

Splashing Outdoor Fun at the Sunway Lagoon’s Aqua Run

Bandar Sunway, 25 April 2017 – More than 1,000 runners of all ages and backgrounds made their way to Sunway Lagoon for the inaugural AQUA Run – a “fun run” featuring six exhilarating fun zones!

The AQUA Run was aimed at encouraging more Malaysians to venture outdoors and experience a fun and exciting day of activity together with their friends and families, in line with Sunway Lagoon’s reputation as a one-stop fun destination in creating memorable moments.



The morning kicked-off with a quick 15-minute warm-up session, after which the runners took their positions at the starting line, where they were greeted with a “cold shower” just as the race began!

It was certainly a day filled with plenty of thrills and spills as the runners made their way across some of the park’s most iconic attractions, including the Malaysia’s Largest Man-made Sandy Surf Beach.



At each of the six designated fun zones, the runners encountered unexpected surprises and interesting challenges, such as the Splash Attack where runners brazed through pulsating rotating sprinklers and keeping their balance while avoiding the spongy holes at the Puddles Mattress.



Runners put their climbing skills to test while they try to reach the peak of the Climb & Slide and squeeze their way through the Wall Diving. Finally, the runners arrived at the Water Disco Hut near the Malicove Pool, where they were thoroughly washed and rinsed amidst colourful lights and music, before racing towards the finish line.



“Sunway Lagoon is known for being a one-stop fun destination, and we continuously strive to create memorable moments for everyone. Our visitors spend a lot of time at our water attractions, and we thought how great it would be to hold our very first AQUA Run where participants can experience our park in a different and unique way. I’m really happy to see such an encouraging turnout at this event,” commented Sean Choo, General Manager of Sunway Lagoon.



Before proceeding for a fun-filled time at the remainder of the park, all runners proudly took home medals for their outstanding efforts. The day came to a close with a Bubble Music Celebration, a bubble-filled concert at the Surf Beach’s Giant Canopy, where participants were able to let their hair down and dance the evening away.

For more information, visit www.sunwaylagoon.com or call 603 5639 0000.

Top Malaysian Marathoners Competing for Title and Potential Spot at the SEA Games

KUALA LUMPUR, April 2017: The Standard Chartered KL Marathon (SCKLM) 2017 is gearing up to be a highly competitive race, particularly in the Malaysian Men’s category, as the top Malaysian marathon runners will be competing for honours as well as hoping to catch the attention of the selectors of the KL SEA Games squad.

Muhaizar Mohamad & Leo Tan

Last year’s Full Marathon winner in the Malaysian category was Muhaizar Mohamad with a time of 2:39:24, followed by Mohd Jironi Riduan in second place with a time of 2:39:56 and Tan Huong Leong in third recording a time of 2:41:53. Not only are all three runners back for SCKLM 2017, but their contest will be given an added edge because of the SEA Games in KL later this year. Tan in particular, has been recording really fast times recently with a 2:35:24 at the Taipei Marathon in December and 2:28:19 in the recently concluded Tokyo Marathon, which is one of the fastest times recorded by a Malaysian for the full marathon.

“We are really looking forward to a hotly contested SCKLM 2017, especially in the Malaysian Men’s Full Marathon Category,” said Rainer Biemans, Director of Dirigo Events and Project Director of SCKLM 2017. “This augurs well for our event as one of our key objectives has been to raise the competitive level of the SCKLM. And as the selection for the SEA Games is only finalised in July, these runners will be eager to push hard to try to earn selection,” he added.

Defending Malaysian Men’s champion Muhaizar Mohamad knows that SCKLM 2017 is potentially his best bet to get into the national team for the KL SEA Games 2017. Muhaizar has dominated the Malaysian Men’s category for the Full Marathon the last couple of years. The Armed Forces personnel largely trains on his own but a short stint under Mark Williams, the Official Running Coach that runs SCKLM’s Running Clinics, enabled him to achieve his personal best at last year’s SCKLM. “I don’t have a personal coach so it’s going to be tough for me to post faster times. I realised how much a coach could help me when I trained under Mark Williams. The plan he devised is what helped me to achieve my fastest time so far at last year’s SCKLM,” said Muhaizar. “But as the SEA Games is on home soil this year, I will be going all out in SCKLM 2017 to hopefully beat my personal best and qualify for the Games,” he added.

Jironi

Jironi, on the other hand needs to better his personal best considerably if he wants to make the cut. His personal best of 2’39:58 is currently well outside the national qualifying mark of 2’35:04 for the SEA Games but the school coach is determined to beat his personal best at SCKLM 2017. “I know my timing is still below the qualifying mark but I am focused on delivering a better time at SCKLM 2017 and hopefully that puts me in contention for a SEA Games race slot,” said Jironi.

Leo Tan

Tan, 29, could be the man to watch as his current personal best is well within the qualifying mark. He has been training in Taiwan, where he works as an engineer, under professional Taiwanese distance running coach Lim Chen Ming for the last two years and the results are beginning to speak for themselves. His timing at the last Standard Chartered KL Marathon has been shaved by almost 13 minutes albeit in much more temperate conditions in Tokyo compared to Kuala Lumpur. It will certainly be interesting to see how fast he can go in the sweltering conditions here.

“I’m really looking forward to SKLM 2017. While I’m not setting any particular goals for this event, I still want to do my best for this run and hopefully my name is in the list for the SEA Games come July,” said Tan.



Another Malaysian to look out for in SCKLM 2017 is the current national record holder of the Half Marathon Malaysian Women’s category Sheela Samivellu. Sheela smashed her own previous record at SCKLM 2016 and will be gunning to clinch a spot in the SEA Games through a strong showing in this year’s SCKLM. The Principal Assistant Director with the Ministry of Well-Being, Housing and Local Government started running from an early age and has participated in the SEA Games several times before. “I started running when I was five and the journey continues. What started as a means to be happy and to reduce stress has become something more serious now. Breaking the national record at SCKLM2016 was the proudest moment in my career so far and I hope I can finish just as strongly this year as that would put me in a good position for the SEA Games in August,” said Sheela.

Sheela Samivellu

The Standard Chartered KL Marathon has grown to become the premier running event in Malaysia that draws thousands of local and international runners to the country whilst firmly establishing Malaysia in the global running calendar. The 2017 edition of the race will once again see sponsorship from Title Sponsor Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia, along with Honda Malaysia, Brooks, Lucozade, Seiko and Pacific Regency.

Elite runners will be competing to earn a slice of the almost RM500,000 in total that is on offer at the Standard Chartered KL Marathon 2017,which include bonus prizes for record-breaking course times.

Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon Makes "World Marathon Majors" Bid

Singapore, 27 April 2017 – The Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon (SCSM) today announced its bid to join six of the largest and most renowned marathons in the world - London, Berlin, New York, Chicago, Tokyo and Boston - as an Abbott World Marathon Majors (WMM) event. Currently, the Singapore marathon has been recognised as a Gold Label event by the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) since 2012 for its world-class excellence in global sporting significance, organisational quality, athletes’ safety and compliance with the IAAF Rules and Regulations.

A 10-year partnership between event organiser IRONMAN Asia and WMM to expand the current race calendar from six to nine cities with additions in regions such as Asia, Africa and the Middle East has made it possible for Singapore’s marquee running event to bid for the opportunity.

Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Grace Fu, who was the Guest-of-Honour for the SCSM 2017 launch event said, “The SCSM is a good example of the power of sport in bringing people together. Since 2002, the annual event has drawn together friends, family members and companies as a community, united in their common passion for running and keeping fit. I would like to thank title sponsor, Standard Chartered Bank and the other partners for developing and supporting our Singapore race over the years. I look forward to the SCSM becoming a part of the international league of marathon majors.

Commenting on the bid, Managing Director of IRONMAN Asia, Geoff Meyer said “The Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon is perfectly placed to be a World Marathon Major. Since 2011, the race has been one of the most popular in the region, attracting an annual average of 50,000 runners. With the support of our IRONMAN global network and our longstanding commitment to the Singapore Marathon, I am confident that we can bring the event to greater heights and develop Singapore as a premier running destination. Stay tuned as we will be rolling out our roadmap and vision for the future of the race in the coming months.”

In support of this bid, long-standing sponsor Standard Chartered Bank has announced a renewed sponsorship through to 2019. The S$11.4m in funding over the next three years is a significant boost to Singapore’s growing running community. The race has also been renamed as the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon (SCSM), to align with other WMM events globally.

“Standard Chartered Bank has been sponsoring the marathon since 2002. We have witnessed how the event has shaped the popularity of running as a sport, and as a platform for building community cohesion in Singapore. We are very proud to support SCSM’s bid to be part of the prestigious WMM series,” said Judy Hsu, CEO of Standard Chartered Bank Singapore.

Enhanced Experience: Pre-race
Runners can expect an enhanced experience which begins well before the race weekend on 2-3 December. Upon registration, runners will receive a race pack worth over $180, which includes new items such as an upgraded backpack and free race day personal accident plan. For the first time, participants will be decked out with event and finisher tees by new race apparel sponsor Under Armour.

From this year till 2019, SCSM Race Entry Pack Collection will be held within the city centre at Marina Bay Sands. This is part of the organiser’s aim to offer SCSM runners a bigger and better race expo with the return of Prudential Healthy Life Expo for the second year, while facilitating convenient and seamless pick-up of race packs.

Enhanced Experience: Race
Come race day, runners can also look forward to numerous new experiences, including new race routes, the cold towel experience upon crossing the Finish Line, and a free digital personal race photo that they can share on social media. Runners in the Full and Half-Marathon categories will enjoy a completely new route that will take them through some of Singapore’s most iconic heritage locations.

In the 10km race, runners can expect to see more of the city skyline than ever before as they blaze their way through the central business district during daybreak.

En route, there will also be a number of improvements with the introduction of new features like mist tunnels, cooling zones, additional and longer hydration points and more entertainment along the route for a better running experience.

Rewarding Runners
As the marathon enters its 16th edition, IRONMAN Asia will introduce a loyalty program that will reward loyal runners. Participants who have clocked more than 300 KM since the 2010 Singapore Marathon will receive a customised running tee-shirt and a collector 300km club coin.

Come July, SCSM will unveil runners’ programmes that will help SCSM participants to prepare them for the best race yet.

Registration for the SCSM 2017 starts on 27 April 2017 at www.singaporemarathon.com. Standard Chartered Cardholders will enjoy 15% off registration fee across all categories.

For more information, visit: www.singaporemarathon.com Follow the race: Facebook: www.facebook.com/MarathonSG Instagram: @MarathonSG Twitter: @MarathonSG