27th KINABALU CLIMBATHON 2013

More than 500 runners from all over the world including locals participated in the 27th Mount Kinabalu Climbathon International event.Deemed “the World’s Toughest Mountain Race”, it is the ultimate challenge to take for those who are game enough to test their endurance by running up and down Mount Kinabalu for a total distance of more than 20 km. This year, the main challenge races were the the 33 km Elite and the 23 km Adventure race for both men and women.  

 

Kenya's Carolyne Jepkosgei Chepkwony won the Women's Open with a time of 3 hours and 13 minutes. Another Kenyan, Viola Jepchirchir Kimeli took the 2nd place in 3 hours and 21 minutes while Nigerian Genevive Uchechi Nkoju finished 3rd clocking 3 hours and 36 minutes.

 

For the Elite men's open race, David Simpat, a local took the 1st place, reaching the 4095 m summit in 2 hours,11 minutes and finished the race in 4 hours and 12 minutes. Dai Matsumo, a professional athlete from Japan who won the Mount Fuji race this year, took the 2nd place with  4 hours and 18 minutes. A Sabah Park Ranger, Safrey Sumping took the 3rd place finishing in 4 hours and 25 minutes.

Ruth Charlotte Croft, 24 from New Zealand won the Elite women's open in 5 hours, 24 minutes. The 2nd place went to a Sabahan, Kuilin Gongot, 47, who clocked 5 hours and 57 minutes while a Swiss runner, Nora Barbara Senn, 38, took the 3rd place with 6 hours and 11 minutes.

Guainus, retained his Men’s Veteran champion title while his wife Kona@Lydia Liau won  2nd  place in the Women's Veteran category. A very strong husband and wife team!

Three Kenyans, Enock Kipchirchir Kigen, 24, Stephen Daniel Kariithi Kuria, 32, and Nelson Kiptoo, 24, took the top three spots in the Men’s Open category . Kigen clocked in at 2 hour and 28 minutes followed by Kuria at 2 hours and 30 minutes and Nelson at 2 hours 33 minutes.

The 27th Mount Kinabalu Climbathon was a huge success. I hope more runners will participate in the 28th event in 2014.