Mt. Kinabalu International Climbathon returns with Elite runners among participants

5 October 2024

KOTA KINABALU: The 31st Mt. Kinabalu International Climbathon 2024 is scheduled to take place on Sunday, October 6, at Kinabalu Park, marking a significant return after a seven-year hiatus.

This prestigious event will feature an impressive lineup of elite runners among the 206 participants.

The race will commence at 7 am, with the flag-off ceremony conducted by Mary Malangking, the Deputy Permanent Secretary I of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Environment.

This year’s summit race includes three categories: Elite Men, with 74 participants; Elite Women, with 60 participants; and Men Veterans, with 72 participants.

Competitors include seasoned athletes from Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Brunei Darussalam, all of whom boast impressive track records in previous Climbathons and other notable races.

The participant list is predominantly Malaysian, comprising 155 individuals from all 13 states.

Sabah leads with the highest number of participants at 84, followed by Selangor with 33, Kuala Lumpur with 13, Perak with five, and Negeri Sembilan with four.

Additionally, there are three participants each from Johor, Pahang, and Sarawak, while Kelantan and Terengganu each have two participants. One participant each hail from Melaka, Penang, and Labuan.

Julinus Jeffery Jimit, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Sabah Tourism Board (STB), expressed his enthusiasm for the event, stating, “It’s incredible to witness the enthusiasm surrounding the return of our Climbathon after seven years.

"We received an overwhelming response and are thrilled to announce that participants from 17 countries will join us for the 31st Climbathon, including representatives from as far away as Peru, the United States, Great Britain, Sweden, Hungary, France, and Poland.”

He further emphasised the diversity of participants, stating, “We are delighted to welcome solo competitors from Australia, China, Great Britain, Hungary, Peru, Poland, Sweden, the USA, and Vietnam, alongside three from France, four from the Philippines, seven from Indonesia and Singapore, and 16 from our neighboring country, Brunei Darussalam.”

“This year, in the Elite Men category, we are pleased to welcome top runners including Walter Herman, who previously placed fourth in 2017 and sixth in 2016.

Also competing is Roger Herman from Malaysia, who secured seventh place in both 2016 and 2017. Wilsen Singgin from Malaysia, who achieved ninth place in the Elite Men category in 2016, will also be participating.”

“Additionally, we are excited to welcome Vinson S. Ramos from the Philippines, who earned third place at the Akyathlon 2023, and Putra Julio Ekdo Badayu from Indonesia, who claimed second place at the Jabar Ultra Trail Run 2024.”

“In the Elite Women’s category, we have Sandi Menchi Catlona Abahan from the Philippines, who won the Elite Race in both 2016 and 2017. Ahineh Dainin from Malaysia, the second runner-up in the Elite Women category in 2017, will also compete, along with Tahira Najmunisaa Muhammad, who was the second runner-up in 2016.”

“In the Men’s Veteran category, we have Safrey Sumping from Malaysia, the inaugural winner of the Elite Race in 2016 and 2017, and Daved Simpat, who placed third in the Elite Race in 2017. Sapirin Sumping, also from Malaysia, achieved fifth place in 2016. Rounding out the veteran competitors is Zainor Sam Md Zain from Brunei, the first runner-up at the Simpur Ultra Run 2023.”

To date, Kilian Jornet Burgada from Spain holds the record for the fastest completion of the Climbathon race, with an impressive time of 2 hours, 39 minutes, and 10 seconds, recorded during the 21st Mt. Kinabalu International Climbathon in 2007. It is important to note that this record was based on the previous distance of 21 km, while this year the distance has been adjusted to 26 km.

The prize pool is set at RM 8,000 for each of the three main categories: Men’s Elite, Women’s Elite, and Men’s Veteran. The second and third-place winners will receive RM 6,000 and RM 4,000, respectively.

Additional cash prizes will be awarded to the fourth through tenth-place finishers.

As participants compete for these prizes, they will tackle the breathtaking challenge of Mount Kinabalu, one of the highest mountains in Southeast Asia, which is also easily accessible to most climbers.

On May 24, 2023, Sabah was awarded the title of Kinabalu UNESCO Global Geopark, making Malaysia the third country in the world to achieve triple crown status from UNESCO.

With this declaration, Sabah joins China and Korea as the only locations to attain this prestigious recognition.

Sabah's two other UNESCO titles include Kinabalu Park, which was recognised as a World Heritage Site on December 2, 2000, and the UNESCO Crocker Range Biosphere Reserve,  designated on June 12, 2014.

The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment Sabah, Sabah Tourism Board, Sabah Parks, and Sri Pelancongan Sabah Sdn Bhd are the organisers of the 31st Mt. Kinabalu International Climbathon 2024 with support from Tourism Malaysia and Hello Sabah Events.

The event is made possible through generous sponsorship from official partners, including Sutera Sanctuary Lodges and Perkasa Hotels, Tritonic Isotonic Drink, K2 Drinking Water, Borneo Excursions, media partner KupiKupi FM, and apparel partner K2 Life Water. Additional sponsorships include Airdry Microfiber Sdn. Bhd., Zeak, and FUGA.