KUCHING: Kenyan runners once again dominated the men’s open category at the 10th Kuching Marathon 2025, but local athletes stole the spotlight by breaking into the top 10 and showing signs of growing competitiveness on the international stage.
The men’s 42-kilometre open race saw six Kenyan runners sweep the top six spots, with David Rono emerging champion after clocking 2 hours 26 minutes and 21 seconds.
Despite the international dominance, Malaysia had reason to celebrate as homegrown runners finished seventh through tenth, a milestone that signals growing potential among local athletes to challenge elite competitors in the years to come.
The women’s open category painted an even brighter picture for Malaysia.
Only one Kenyan runner, Abigael Jerop, managed to secure a podium place with her winning time of 3 hours 15 minutes and 19 seconds.
The remaining top-10 positions, from second to tenth, were all claimed by local runners, underscoring the rising strength of Malaysian women in distance running.
The strong performance was widely welcomed as a positive development for Malaysian athletics, with local female athletes demonstrating their ability to dominate against international rivals and elevate the profile of the sport.
In addition to the open categories, special prizes were awarded to the top three Malaysians in both the Veteran and National divisions, male and female, in recognition of their endurance and determination.
The prize-giving ceremony for all categories, including the half marathon (21km) and 10km run, was officiated by Kuching North City Commission (DBKU) Mayor, Datuk Hilmy Othman.
With around 14,000 participants from Malaysia and abroad, the Kuching Marathon 2025 once again cemented its status as one of the region’s largest and most vibrant running events, while providing a vital platform to showcase the emergence of local talent.
