SIBU: Defending champion Soh Wai Ching successfully defended his Men’s Open category title at the 3rd edition of the Sibu Tower Run with a record time.
Soh, who is Asia’s No. 1 and 5th in the world, broke his last year’s time of 21 minutes and 41 seconds. At the run which was competed by a total of 253 runners from the four categories, Soh finished in a new time of 20 minutes and 56 seconds.
Meanwhile, a Kenyan female marathon runner Viola Jepchirchir Kimeli took the Women’s Open title.
The run yesterday was jointly organised by Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) and Underground Runners Sibu (UGRS)
Participants must complete a 5-km, two-lap run along Sibu Town Square Phase I and II, Chuan Corridor, LKH Hospital Memorial Museum and the waterfront before running up the 28-storey (126m high) Wisma Sanyan.
An ecstatic Soh, 25, when met, said he was able to break his record as he was in top form.
“I am better prepared this time and moreover, I am also for the Paris Tower Run which I will be competing in the next three days,” he added.
After Paris, Soh will head to London for the 42-storey tower run.
“Winning the Sibu Tower Run which is my first for this year has really built my confidence as I am targeting to compete in 30 runs this year compared to 25 last year.”
Soh, who is from Selayang, Selangor, said he needed to compete in 30 runs this year as he aimed to improve his world ranking to number 3.
“By May, my ranking should improve to number 4 as I maintain my Asia No. 1 ranking as by then, I will have completed Taiwan 101 Tower Run,” he said.
The ambassador for Sibu Tower Run 2019 was unselfish in giving some pointers to participants who aimed for the medal finish after he won the Men’s Open title last year.
“Don’t start too fast. I saw a lot of participants running too fast in the 5-km run. They should do it casually as there are stairs to climb up. I also saw participants running up the first four blocks of the staircase; they should instead walk to avoid draining their energy,” he advised.
At the run today, Soh said he was not running but speedily walking up consistently on the staircase.
The part time coach of track and field events said participants who were tired should give way to others while on the staircase instead of holding on to the handrail of the staircase to block others.
“This is the ethics of tower run. When I first started doing tower run, I did the same thing which is wrong. In Europe, the runners know when to give way to others,” he said.
Viola, 28, meanwhile said she would be coming back next year to defend her title.
“This is my first time here and I am happy to be among the winners. I will be back next year,” she assured.
The champions in all the categories received RM800 each while for the first and second runners-up, it was RM400 and RM300 respectively.
Third and fourth runners-up brought home RM100 each while the 6th to 10th finishers went home with RM50 each.
The 11th to 20th winners received RM20 each.
Prizes were given away by SMC chairman Datuk Tiong Thai King.
Results:
Men’s Open:
- Soh Wai Ching 2. Hunsan Hasing 3. Chin Hong Zhang.
Men’s Veteran:
- Alex Tiong King Hee 2. Wong Chui Kai 3. Siew Ik Kiong
Women’s Open:
- Viola Jepchirchir Kimeli 2. Wong Mee King 3. Yong Yee Ling
Women’s Veteran
- Lee Leh Ha 2. Ling Mee Eng 3. Hii Yieng Nyuk
