The Kuala Lumpur Standard Chartered Marathon (KLSCM) 2024, the nation’s premier long-distance running event, commenced its 16th edition today with a record number of participants. A total of 42,000 runners are set to gather at the iconic Dataran Merdeka over the course of two days on October 5 and 6. The first day featured the 5km, 10km, and Kids Dash categories, while the full and half marathons will take place on the second day, where fierce competition is anticipated from elite athletes.
The Boost Juice 10km event kicked off the festivities, with Kenyan runner Japhet Rono, making his KLSCM debut, taking first place in the Men’s Open category with a time of 33:14. “This is my first experience at the Kuala Lumpur Standard Chartered Marathon. I didn’t expect to win, and I thank God for giving me the strength to achieve this,” Rono shared. “I look forward to competing in the next edition in 2025,” he added.
In the same category, Malaysian runners Daren James Nair and Ruveshwaran Balachandran secured the second and third places with times of 33:23 and 33:56, respectively.
In the Women’s Open category, the top two finishers were also Kenyan: Chengetich Langat won with a time of 40:18, followed by Purity Jelimo Serem in 41:02. Malaysia’s Chan Ann Sze secured third place with a time of 45:11. “My goal was to win. Knowing the course had some hills, I planned to conserve my energy until the last 2km and then push for victory,” Langat explained.
In the Men’s Veteran 10km category, Malaysian Loganathan Munusamy finished first with a time of 38:02, followed closely by Jeffrey Ross from Great Britain at 38:11 and fellow Malaysian Saravanan at 38:28. In the Women’s Veteran category, Kenya’s Jane Wanjiru Muriuki won with a time of 41:12, with Malaysians Lee Sium Louw and Ng Siew King coming in second and third at 45:19 and 46:37, respectively.
The 5km category followed the 10km event and was a vibrant celebration, with many participants donning imaginative and fun costumes.
A traditional highlight of the first day of KLSCM is the Kids Dash categories, designed for children aged 6 to 13 years. Reintroduced last year, this event continues to engage young participants. “We’re thrilled to welcome the kids participating in the 1km and 2km Kids Dash events, as they represent the future of the running community,” expressed Rainer Biemans, KLSCM Project Director and director of Dirigo Events, the event’s owner and organizer. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for families to engage in an outdoor activity together, promoting their physical and mental well-being,” he added.
Aydan Haris clinched the top spot in the 1km Kids Dash Boys category with a time of 03:53, closely followed by Muaz Qusyaere in 03:54 and Sam Bakker from the Netherlands in 04:09. In the Girls category, Nur Mikhaila took first place in 04:33, with Nur Afrina Arissa and Winifred James following in 04:39 and 04:40, respectively. In the Boys 2km category, Muhammad Zafry Idraky finished first in 06:51, with Amer Firash Isaac Zuhayr in second place at 07:00 and Ashton Choo Chen Xi rounding out the podium in 07:22. For the Girls in the 2km category, Anissha Veluswami won with a time of 08:09, followed by Medoraa Sofea in 08:13 and Adeelea Uwaesha Fysarra at 08:15.
Nick Tiernan, CEO and Owner of Boost Juice Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, and Brunei, participated in the Boost Juice 10km category and expressed excitement to be part of this significant running event in Malaysia.
“We are thrilled to return as a Gold Sponsor of KLSCM, undoubtedly the most prestigious distance running event in Malaysia and perhaps the region,” stated Nick Tiernan. “Our smoothies and juices are the perfect refreshment for anyone looking to recharge and enhance their athletic performance! We’re excited to promote our ‘Love Life’ philosophy, which helps runners and athletes unlock the full potential of our drinks, aligning with KLSCM’s mission to promote a healthy lifestyle,” he added.
KLSCM has transformed into Malaysia’s largest running event, drawing thousands of local and international runners and positioning the country on the global running calendar. This year saw a remarkable 72% increase in the number of running tourists arriving in Kuala Lumpur to participate, significantly boosting tourism revenue. The 16th edition of this event continues to receive support from Title Sponsor Standard Chartered Malaysia, alongside Gold Sponsor Boost Juice Malaysia, and other sponsors including Pressio, 100 Plus, Brooks, Seiko, TudungPeople, Pantai Hospital KL, and Counterpain. The event is organized with the support of the venue host DBKL, plus MAF and FTKLAA, and backed by the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Tourism.
