PETALING JAYA: The Kuala Lumpur Standard Chartered Marathon (KLSCM) today is set to witness a thrilling contest among the nation’s long-distance runners, with a ticket to the Thailand SEA Games at stake.
All eyes will be on national elites Muhaizar Mohammad and Yeow Ni Jia, who have both made extensive preparations for the race.
Muhaizar, a two-time SEA Games bronze medallist, is eager to make a return to the biennial event after missing the 2023 edition in Phnom Penh.
He knows, however, that more local long-distance runners are closing the gap, and he is determined to give everything he has to earn another shot at representing the country.
Muhaizar, a former commando, admitted that age will also be a factor as he is now 41. He knows he will need to dig deep and push himself twice as hard as the much younger runners.
“It’s definitely a big challenge for me as I’m much older than them. I’m already in the masters category at 40, while most of them are only in their 20s. The younger ones have a different kind of energy. So, for me, it’s all about being tactical and planning how to hit my target and go for the win," said Muhaiza.
His rival, Ni Jia, may not be a full-time athlete as he works as a software engineer, but he has still managed to post some impressive times.
His confidence was further lifted after setting a personal best of 2'27:42 at the Gold Coast Marathon in July, and he will be hoping to deliver another strong run in today’s race.
“My main focus is on the KLSCM, but earning a spot at the SEA Games would be a bonus. I just want to run my own race, stay composed, and focus on what lies ahead. In a marathon, anything can happen,” said Ni Jia.
The two Puma-sponsored athletes were on hand at the launch of the GoWild Running Experience in Kuala Lumpur, which brought together runners, creativity and community.
