Mountain guide wins Mt Kinabalu climbathon

The climbathon winners posing with their medals and mock cheques.

KOTA KINABALU: Mountain guide Safery Sumping beat 120 others to emerge champion in the 29th Mount Kinabalu International Climbathon.

Safery, who has been participating in the climbathon since 2013, said his victory was unexpected as he was only aiming to be among the top five.

“The race up was a little challenging,” said the 33-year-old when met at Timpohon gate.

He added the route was wet and slippery and the wind was strong during the climb.

“I fell on the way down at kilometre 3.3 but luckily was not badly injured,” he said.

Second and third in the men’s elite category were Sabahan Winston Latius and Kenyan John Kipkori Luto.

Safery finished in two hours, 21 minutes and 37 seconds while Winston completed his race 81 seconds behind.

Luto clocked in at two hours, 28 minutes and 23 seconds.

For the women’s elite category, Filipino Sandi Menchi Catlona Abahan came in first, followed by Kenyan Viola Jepchirchir Kimeli and Malaysia’s Tahira Najmunissa Muhammad.

The annual Mount Kinabalu International Climbathon resumed after a year’s hiatus due to the June 5 earthquake in 2015.

The race was flagged off at 7am by Tourism, Culture and Environment minister Datuk Masidi Manjun and Sabah Tourism Board chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai.

The race had to be cut short halfway due to bad weather.

Sabah’s pre race favourite - David Simpat who came in second in 2014 - also had his hopes dashed when he slipped and fell just before reaching the end.

This year’s race was 33km-long and participants traversed 15km of tarmac road and 18km of forest trails.

For safety reasons, this year’s climbathon was only open to qualified participants recommended by their respective national federations or those who had finished the race within the time limit in previous years.

Only 121 participants were allowed to compete compared to previous years when up to 400 people took part.