Porter wins first Mount Kinabalu International Climbathon title

KOTA KINABALU (Oct 6): Local favourites Walter Herman and Daved Simpat were crowned the Elite and Veteran Men champions as Sandi Menchi Abahan of the Philippines reigned supreme in the Elite Women event of the 31st Mount Kinabalu International Climbathon on Sunday.

Walter, a porter, completed ascending and descending the majestic Mount Kinabalu covering a distance of 26km in three hours, 36 minutes and 42 seconds (3:36.42s) to clinch the first ever Climbathon title.

The 35-year-old local from Kiulu had to fight back after he came second in the race to the summit behind Indonesian Yusri Nanda.

Walter was 90 seconds behind Yusri who reached the peak at 2:27.31s but the former showed his prowess on the descend.

Yusri had to settle for second with his finish time of 3:39.51s while another local runner Jude Maikol settled for third with 3:44.11s.

In the Veteran Men event, the expected two-horse race between Safrey Sumping, who was the Elite Men winner in 2016-2017, and Daved was the highlight with both contesting the veteran category for the first time ever.

And it was Daved who emerged triumphant in the race-off, clocking 3:36.13s to Safrey’s 3:52.49s.
Milton Amat, another local runner, settled for third in 4:01.13s.

In the Elite Women race, Sandi was in her own class as she made a triumphant return by clocking 4:50.35s to clinch a third successive title.

She also won in 2016 and 2017 before the Climbathon was halted the following year.

Malaysian runner Tahira Najmunisaa Muhammad Zain was second with 5:18.11s while local runner Danny @ Kuilin Gongot came in third in 5:59.35s.

The Climbathon is making a return after a seven years hiatus where 206 athletes from within and outside of the country took part.

The top three winners in race category received RM8,000, RM6,000 and RM4,000 respectively while prize money was also given to fourth and 10th placed finishers.

The Tourism Malaysia-supported Climbathon was organised by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment, Sabab Tourism Board (STB), Sabah Parks and Sri Pelancongan Sabah Sdn Bhd.

Deputy permanent secretary I of the ministry, Mary Malangking, and STB chief executive officer Julinus Jeffery Jimit flagged off the participants.