I received an email a few weeks back from a local university student, saying that she is going to participate in Mount Kinabalu International Climbathon 2006. She said to me that she do not have a digital camera, but willing to use her analog camera to capture as much photo during the event.

The journey to the summit this time was an eventful experience for her. The bus that she follow broke down on the way, and have to wait for another bus to come to continue the journey to Kinabalu Park.

She did not able to finish the event at the allocated time, as she said to me she did not have a enough training. The certificate that she email to me shows DNF, means ‘did not finish’. You can see her certificate in the gallery.

Anyway, I said to her that there will alway be next year for her to try.

For Wai Yong, thank you for your nice photos!

To see more of her climbathon photo, checkout the gallery.

Kota Kinabalu: Ricardo Mejia pulled off a great come-from-behind victory to retain the men’s crown in the rain-hit Climbathon in Kundasang yesterday.

And the Mexican had more reasons to celebrate as he also walked home with the Buff-Skyrunner World Series FSA title.

The way he won the Climbathon should go down as one of the best ever finishes in the history of the event, officially known as TM 20th Mount Kinabalu International Climbathon this year.

Local hopeful Mius Balinting was two minutes ahead of Mejia after passing the Timpohon Gate (4km to the finishing line) but latter was undaunted and stepped up the gear toward the final stretch of the race.

“I know the final stretch is on flat road which is very good for me… my confidence never faded despite trailing him.”

“I managed to overtake him in the final 500m and I never looked back,” said Mejia, who clocked 2:50.52s to beat Mius (2:51.44s) and another local Safrey Sumping (2:53.22).

Mejia, who also won a gold pendant for reaching the summit first, said he lost his lead as a result of his safety first aproach on the decend.

“I dislike running down…it was very slippery and made worse by the rain,” he said.

“I fell four times on the way down but thankfully I could still keep my momentum.”

It is Mejia’s third Climbathon title after winning in 2001 and 2005, and the day also saw him taking the Buff Skyrunner World Series crown by collecting 400 points to edge Spaniard Agusti Roc Amador, who managed 342 points and Italian Dapit Fulvio with 322 points.

The Climbathon is the eighth and the final leg of the Skyrunner Series where the ranking is based on the four best points achieved by the runners in any legs.

“I have two titles today and I’m extremely happy,” said Mejia, who declined to confirm whether he will comeback and defend his crown next year.

Mejia received USD4,500 for his effort in the Climbathon and 3,000 euros for his first place in the Skyrunner Series.

The Climbathon offered a total cash prize of USD33,400 to the top 15 finishers in the men’s and women’s open.

In addition, a gold pendant eas offered to each of the first runners in the men’s and women’s open to reach the summit – the Low’s Peak.

Taken from local newspaper, The Borneo Post, by Lester J. Bingkasan.

KOTA KINABALU: Czech Republic runner, Anna Pichrtova, led from start to finish to win the 20th edition of Mount Kinabalu International Climbathon.

She won US$4,500 (about RM16,600) and a gold pendant for being first up and down the 4,095-metre mountain, covering 21km in the process to win the event for women.

Having finished second in 2002 and winning it in 2001,2002, 2004 and 2005, she beat her compatriot and debutant Iva Milesova, 29, who got second prize of US$4,000.

Briton Dr Angela Mudge, who won the race in 1999 and 2000, was third.

In the men’s veteran race, Sarun Sadi, 41, won RM1,000 by crossing the finish line ahead of Francis Cosgrave of the Philippines and last year’s champion Taising Bukolong.

The race continues today with the men’s race.

Mexican Ricardo Mejia defends his title against runners from 21 countries.

Local runners, who are farmers, porters and guides from Kadamaian, Kota Belud and other areas, are expected to give them a tough fight. Many of them have joined the Kadamaian Mountain Running Association to prepare for the event.

Protem president of the association, Johnny Gilong, said many local runners had been taking part in the race since it began in 1987 but only a few had won.

“When a local wins, we celebrate the victory for a few days or weeks but after that there’s nothing. I have yet to see any concrete follow-up to develop the sport.”

“We hope to groom more mountain runners who are capable of challenging the world’s best,” he said adding the association had also organised mini mountain races in Kota Belud.

The last local runner who won the men’s event was Guianus Salagan in 1994, 1995 and 1996 while Danny Kuilin Gongot won the women’s race in 1997,1998 and 2003.

Taken from local newspaper, 01 Oct 2006:
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/nst/Sunday/National/20061001083424/Article/index_html

by Roy Goh