Mount Kinabalu International Climbathon has not lost its shine after a six-year absence
Top mountain runners have made a beeline for the Mount Kinabalu International Climbathon which is making a comeback on October 6 after a six-year absence. And this proves that the world’s toughest race up and down Malaysia’s tallest peak at 4,095 metres (13, 435 feet) in Sabah has not become less appealing although the field has been kept small. They include Spain’s record-breaking Kilian Jornet Burgada, 36, who was the fastest man at the 2007 race by clocking two hours, 39 minutes and 10 seconds over a 21-km (13-mile) distance. He also holds the record for being the fastest man at the Matterhorn (4,478 metres) and Mont Blanc (4,805 metres) in the Alps in Europe. There are 206 participants, six more than targeted, in three categories: men (74), women (60) and veteran men (72). There is no veteran women category because previous races weren’t encouraging, according to the race officials. The distance for this year’s race is 26km. Before the 2015 earthquake which killed 18 people on the mountain, the climbathon, held over two days, attracted 700 runners
Julinus Jeffery Jimit, the chief executive officer of the Sabah Tourism Board, said he was thrilled by the enthusiasm for the climbathon after such a long hiatus. The last race was held in 2017 after officials said that the climbathon had served its purpose of attracting tourists to Sabah. Seventeen countries from as far as Peru, America and Poland are taking part. But Malaysia dominates the field with 155 participants from all 13 states, according to Sri Pelancongan Sabah, one of the organisers of the race. The others are Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment, the Sabah Tourism Board and Sabah Parks.
Sabah has the most participants at 84, followed by Selangor with 33. Understandably top men runners of six years ago are taking part in the veteran category. They are Safrey Sumping, 41, who won the 2016 and 2017 races, Daved Simpat, 41, who came in third in 2017, and Sapiring Sumping, 44, who was fifth in 2016. They are all Malaysians.
Sabah Insights 