KLSCM 2023: Poo Vasanthan retains title

In a thrilling spectacle at the 15th edition of the Kuala Lumpur Standard Chartered Marathon (KLSCM), national long-distance runner S. Poo Vasanthan showcased his indomitable spirit by successfully defending his title in the Full Marathon Malaysian Men’s category. The race, which unfolded over the weekend against the iconic backdrop of Dataran Merdeka, bore witness to an electrifying showdown among five of Malaysia’s foremost distance runners, solidifying its status as one of the most highly anticipated events on the sporting calendar.

A champion’s resolve

Defying all expectations, Poo Vasanthan proved that his victory last year was no fluke as he held off fierce competition from five-time KLSCM champion Muhaizar Mohamad, national marathon record holder Leo Tan Huong Leong, national half-marathon record holder Prabudass Krishnan, and Nik Fakaruddin. Poo Vasanthan crossed the finish line with a time of 02:37:38, securing his place as the reigning champion.

Speaking about his strategy, the tenacious runner stated, “With such a strong field, I decided that I would just keep pace with the more established runners in the competition until I was two kilometers from the finish line before I started to pick up my pace and push towards victory.” His calculated approach paid off handsomely, and he claimed his well-deserved spot at the top of the podium.

Nik Fakaruddin finished in a close second with a time of 02:37:43, while Leo Tan earned the third position, clocking in at 02:37:56. The competition was intense, with mere seconds separating the top three finishers.

Michelle Chua triumphs in the Malaysian Women’s category

In the equally exciting Full Marathon Malaysian Women’s category, Michelle Chua Khit Yeng showed remarkable improvement by clinching the victory with a time of 03:13:07. Chua, who had finished third last year, demonstrated her determination and dedication to secure the top spot.

Defending champion Noor Amelia Musa put up a valiant effort, finishing second with a time of 03:14:41. Chew Jia Qi claimed the third position, completing the marathon in 03:22:50.

Chua attributed her success to her diligent preparation, saying, “This year I had a lot of help from my coach, along with my friends and family who helped me do my long runs. I managed to clock a lot of mileage in my preparation for the race.” Her commitment and teamwork clearly paid off, as she celebrated her hard-earned victory.

Full Marathon Open: Kenyans sweep the podium

In the Full Marathon Men’s Open category, it was a Kenyan sweep, with the top three runners all hailing from Kenya. Kiprop Tonui from Kenya emerged victorious with a time of 02:13:49, finally clinching the coveted title after finishing as the runner-up four times in the past. John Nzau Mwangangi secured second place with a time of 02:14:03, while defending champion Moses Kiptoo Kurgat settled for third place, clocking in at 02:14:22.

Speaking after his triumph, Kiprop Tonui said, “The strategy I used in my race was a result of my training in Kenya to keep a sustained pace, and it worked today. The course today also helped as it was well organized and suited my preparations, so much thanks to the organizers for designing a smoother course.”

The women’s full marathon saw a similarly impressive performance by Kenyan athletes. Beatrice Jelagat Cherop secured the top position, setting a new course record with a remarkable finishing time of 02:32:51. Truphena Chepchirchir claimed the runner-up spot with a time of 02:32:53, while Sheila Jepkosgei Chesang rounded out the top three with a time of 02:35:50.

Beatrice Cherop, who shattered the previous course record set in 2011 by close to two minutes, said, “When my leg got better into the race, I was able to lengthen my stride and eventually overtook the lead runners. The weather was nice today, not too hot, so I could come from behind and push to win the race.”

Both Kiprop Tonui and Beatrice Cherop, champions of the Full Marathon Men’s and Women’s Open, received a prize of USD 15,000 each for their outstanding performances.

Veterans and Half Marathon champions shine

In the Full Marathon Veteran categories, the Kenyan dominance remained unchallenged. Samson Karega Kamau showcased his experience and determination by clinching victory in the Men’s category with an impressive time of 02:31:03. On the women’s side, Jane Wanjiru Muriuki displayed her prowess, securing the Veteran Women’s category title with a remarkable time of 02:53:06. Their achievements reflect not only their exceptional fitness but also the enduring spirit of veteran athletes.

Meanwhile, in the open half marathon, James Munyi Maregu displayed remarkable speed and stamina, securing the male champion title with an impressive time of 1 hour, 09 minutes, and 34 seconds. On the women’s side, Ruth Wanjiku Gacheru emerged as the female champion, demonstrating exceptional endurance and determination with a finishing time of 1 hour, 29 minutes, and 42 seconds. This further underscores Kenya’s continued dominance in long-distance running, across diverse age groups and various race distances.

Record-breaking turnout at KLSCM 2023

The 15th edition of the KLSCM witnessed a historic turnout as over 40,000 runners converged on Dataran Merdeka over the weekend. Held from September 30 to October 1, this year’s event marked the largest number of participants in its illustrious history.

The event also set a significant milestone by achieving recognition from World Athletics as a Road Race Label event, making it the only distance running event in Malaysia with with such an esteemed status.

Rainer Biemans, Project Director of KLSCM and Director of Dirigo Events, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “KLSCM 2023 has proven to be a truly memorable one as we celebrated the 15th edition of the event by introducing a number of measures to keep the race fresh and more sustainable.”

Run For A Reason: A community-centric initiative

While the KLSCM is a highly competitive event, it also places a strong emphasis on its community element through its Run For A Reason (RFAR) charity initiative. This year, runners raised funds for deserving organizations, including Futuremakers by Standard Chartered, Dignity for Children Foundation, Hospis Malaysia, Kechara Soup Kitchen, and Reef Check Malaysia.

“Run For A Reason has always been an initiative that we hold dear to our hearts, and we try our best to drive donations to our beneficiary charities so that they can continue to carry out the important work that they do. There’s still time to donate as we will only close our fundraising on 9 October, so please donate generously,” urged Biemans.

Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, Adam Adli, had the honor of flagging off the Full and Half Marathon categories. He was accompanied by Mak Joon Nien, CEO of Standard Chartered Malaysia, the title sponsor of KLSCM, and Datuk Yvonne Chia, Chairman of Standard Chartered Malaysia.

“Having been the title sponsor for the last 15 years, we are continually reminded of the impact the marathon holds in effecting positive social change, and this year’s KLSCM was no exception. As we progress, we look forward to ensuring that the event becomes more eco-conscious in line with the Bank’s sustainability agenda,” stated Mak Joon Nien.

KLSCM’s growth

The KLSCM 2023 event featured various categories, with 5km, and Boost Juice 10km races taking place on Saturday. Notably, the beloved Kids Dash made a triumphant return after a three-year hiatus, infusing the event with youthful energy and vibrancy. On Sunday, the Half and Full Marathon categories kept the excitement alive.

The Kuala Lumpur Standard Chartered Marathon has grown exponentially year-on-year to become Malaysia’s most anticipated distance running event. Standard Chartered Malaysia returned as the title sponsor for this year’s edition, with the support of a host of returning and new sponsors, including Boost Juice, Seiko, Pressio, 100 Plus, TudungPeople, Brooks, and Tiger Balm. The event was owned and organized by Dirigo Events, with Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur as the venue host.