Ni Jia and Michelle are fastest Malaysians in KL Marathon

Ni Jia and Michelle with their medals. – AZMAN GHANI/The Star

PETALING JAYA: Malaysian runner Yeow Ni Jia emerged as the fastest Malaysian at the Kuala Lumpur Standard Chartered Marathon (KLSCM) on Sunday (Oct 5).

The 25-year-old software engineer crossed the finish line at Stadium Merdeka with a time of 2'36:12s, earning him the Malaysian Men’s Open title.

In second place, national marathon record holder Leo Tan clocked a time of 2’37:05s, not too far from his record time of 2’22:34s set at the Fukuoka Marathon in 2023.

Former commando and two-time SEA Games bronze medallist Muhaizar Mohammad came in third with 2’44:37s.

In the men’s Open category, it was an all-Kenyan sweep as they took home the top eight spots.  

John Nzau Mwangangi clinched the win with 2’17:28s, followed by Kiprotich Kirui (2’17:45s), and Vincent Kiprono in third (2’18:05s).

In the Malaysian Women’s Open race, Michelle Chua won by almost four minutes as she crossed the line with a time of 3’05:39s, while Noor Amelia Musa clocked 3’09:03s to come in second.

Tiffany Lee, who joined the Malaysian Women’s Open category this year after winning the Veterans race three years straight, finished third with her time of 3’11:07s.

The women’s Open was won by Kenya’s Truphena Chepchirchir (2’41:36s), followed by Ethiopia’s Almaz Negede Fekade (2’41:50s), and Kenya’s Joyline Chemutai in third (2’42:25s).