SEMATAN: Over the weekend, the rugged foothills of Mount Pueh and the pristine coastline of Sematan played host to the inaugural XTERRA Borneo Sarawak, marking a spectacular debut for the international off-road race series in Borneo.
Athletes from across Asia and beyond converged on Sarawak for two days of intense racing, cultural immersion and community celebration.
The highlight of the weekend was the Full Distance Triathlon on Saturday, May 3, which pushed competitors through a 1.5-kilometre swim in the South China Sea, a demanding 35-kilometre bike ride through jungle trails and farmland, and a 10-kilometre trail run that tested their endurance with steep ascents and dense forest paths.
Shahrom Abdullah (Malaysia), competing in the men’s 45–49 age group, emerged as the overall champion, finishing in 3:05:24, where he clocked the fastest swim of the day (28:18), followed by a strong bike (1:32:45) and a 59:44 run.
Laurel Lauridsen Adrian (Malaysia) secured second place overall in 3:14:10, while Arthur Reis of Brazil took third in 3:14:40.
In the women’s 45–49 category, Sue Teoh (Malaysia) dominated from start to finish, claiming the title in 4:08:04, where Teoh led the swim (27:58), powered through the bike leg (2:09:29), and held strong on the run (1:23:17).
She was followed by Mei Ting Jong (4:34:39) and Tze Wee Chan (5:01:25), both also from Malaysia.
Sunday saw the terrain shift from sea to forest with the XTERRA Trail Run Half Marathon (21km), along with 13km and 7km trail events and a Kids Duathlon.
The 21km event, part of the 2025 XTERRA Trail Run World Series, offered 28 qualification slots for the XTERRA Trail Run World Championship in Snowdonia, Wales, later this year.
Similarly, the Full Distance Triathlon served as an official qualifier for the 2025 XTERRA World Championship in Trentino, Italy, scheduled for September.
Twenty-eight athletes earned age-group slots to represent Malaysia on the global stage.
The Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak supported the event, with Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah praising the blend of sport, nature and cultural heritage.
“Our mission is to preserve and share this unique heritage while pioneering eco-friendly tourism experiences that honour both our environment and our communities,” he said.
