Sarawak Lab Technician Wins Marathon Across Two Klang Valley Highways

PETALING JAYA, Aug 3 (Bernama) -- After six unsuccessful attempts at winning a race, Sarawak laboratory technician Thenuel Teli finally tasted victory when he conquered the 2025 Duo Highway Challenge run here today.

Thenuel completed the full marathon (42 kilometres) in the men’s open category with a time of 2 hours 47 minutes and 49 seconds, a race which spanned two major Klang Valley highways, the New Pantai Expressway (NPE) and the Sungai Besi Expressway (Besraya).

“In my six previous races, my best achievements were second and third places. This is only my second full marathon this year, and it’s a redemption of sorts after going home empty-handed at the Score Marathon in Putrajaya last month.

“I’m also happy that today’s time broke my personal best of 2:47:58s set at an international race in Thailand late last year,” he told Bernama after his unexpected victory.

Robin Tan clocked 2:52:10s to finish second and Mohamad Rozi Kasim came in third with 2:53:16s.

Thenuel, 26, whose idol is Kenyan world champion Eliud Kipchoge, hopes today’s win will fuel his motivation for a stronger showing at Malaysia’s biggest marathon event, the Kuala Lumpur Standard Chartered Marathon, scheduled for Oct 4 and 5 in the federal capital.

In the women’s open category, Ang Kee May emerged champion with a time of 3:39:55s, followed by Lee Yee San in second place (3:45:35s) and Lam Hui Theng in third (3:46:41s).

IJM Corporation Berhad chief executive officer Datuk Lee Chun Fai expressed satisfaction over the event, co-organised with insurance company Allianz Malaysia, which saw a 20 per cent increase in participation from 10,900 to 13,000 runners this year.

Besides local runners, this year’s race also attracted participants from more than 30 countries, including Italy, Russia, Canada, Japan and China.

-- BERNAMA