KOTA SAMARAHAN: After a five-year hiatus, the Samarahan Bridge Half Marathon made a triumphant comeback on Saturday, drawing an impressive 842 participants to the grounds of The Summer Shopping Mall.
Leading the charge were Syahrullah Safri and Sally Yap, who were crowned champions of the men’s and women’s 21-kilometre (km) categories respectively.
Syahrullah clocked a winning time of 1 hour 16 minutes and 34 seconds, while Sally crossed the finish line in 1 hour 33 minutes and 51 seconds.
In the 10km race, Shahmi Muhaimin and Pung Cheng Hui emerged victorious in the men’s and women’s categories, recording times of 34 minutes 47 seconds and 45 minutes 14 seconds respectively.
Adding a family-friendly touch to the event, the 5km fun run provided participants the chance to enjoy a lively morning without the pressure of competition.
The event was officially flagged off by Federal Rural and Regional Development Deputy Minister cum Kota Samarahan Member of Parliament, Datuk Rubiah Wang, who was joined by Samarahan Division Resident, Mohamad Irwan Bahari Bujang, Youth and Sports Assistant Officer, Abu Amir, and Kota Samarahan Municipal Council Secretary, Gustian Durani.
Speaking at a press conference after the prize-giving ceremony, Rubiah hailed the marathon’s revival as a resounding success.
“Alhamdulillah, the event received overwhelming support, not only from local participants in Kota Samarahan and Kuching, but also from international runners,” she said, expressing her delight at the turnout.
She noted that the event aligned perfectly with the growing enthusiasm among young people for running, while promoting a healthier lifestyle across all age groups.
“This marathon is a vital platform for fostering youth interest in sports whilst enhancing the community’s overall fitness,” she added.
Initially targetting just 200 to 300 participants, the organisers were thrilled by the exceptional turnout, which has now sparked plans to establish the Samarahan Bridge Half Marathon as an annual event with expanded race categories.
