KUCHING: Malaysians grabbed the winner’s prize for the 100 kilometres Borneo Spartan Trail Classic running event held in Redeems Centre, in Kampung Apar, Bau.
Daved Simpat and Izzah Hazriah Abdul Malek won the first prize for the 100 kilometres, overtaking runners from Ethiopia, Kenya, USA, Germany, Filipino, Hong Kong, Kenya, Spain and Singapore.
There were five male and female categories contested for this year’s Borneo Spartan Trail Classic featuring two championship distances of the 100-kilometre Trail Ultra and the 50-kilometre Trail Run, along with 21km, 10km, 7km and kids fun run, 1 and 3-kilometre.
The entire trail passes through Matang Wildlife Centre, Matang Family Park, Mount Singai and local heritage villages, namely Kawasan Singai, Kampung. Apar, Kampung Segong, Kampung. Barieng, Kampung Bobak Sejinjang, Kampung Daun, and Kampung Daun Ngori, Kampung Tabong, Kampung Atas, Kampung Badul, Kampung Sudoh, and Kampung Rayu.
President of Redeem Centre, Datuk Peter Nansian Ngusie took time to thank the State government for choosing to organise the Borneo Spartan Trail Classic run at Redeem Centre in Kampung Apar.
“It is the first time the event is held here; this place is very suitable and we hope for a much bigger space next year. The organiser’s have booked this event for October next year.
“1,700 participants from ten countries have participated in this year’s event. Registrations for next year have already begun. We hope more countries will be able to come next year, with expectations of 3,000 participants with a bigger parking space and user friendly”, he said.
Meanwhile, Josue Stephens, International Race Director of Spartan, California is also expecting more participants next year and is thrilled to welcome more athletes to the Borneo Spartan Trail Classic.
“The trail here is one of the hardest in South Asia that I have ever seen as a race director and we would like to promote this event to the rest of the world next year”, he said.
The Borneo Trail Classic is the 7th of 9 stops around the world under the 2022 Spartan Trail World Championship. It is the only stop located in Southeast Asia in the Championship.
