KUCHING: Elite runner Fabian Osmond won the Full Marathon 2019 Kuching Marathon in the Malaysian category, early today.
The Sabahan completed the 42-kilometre run, which began at 1am, in 2 hours and 45 minutes.
He achieved the feat despite heavy rainfall in the area.
"Despite the rain and wet roads, I tried to maintain my pace at four minutes.
"It is undeniable that running in the rain would affect one’s performance, as shoes become heavier (due to water retention), and there is the possibility of muscle cramps," he said after receiving a cash prize of RM5,000 during the award ceremony.
Fabian was among 10,681 runners participating in the Full Marathon for the Open, National and Veteran categories; the Half Marathon; and the 10km and 5km categories – all of which went ahead despite a downpour.
In the Open category for the Full Marathon, the winner took home RM9,000, while those placing second and third were awarded RM4,500 and RM2,500, respectively.
A dramatic scene transpired at about 4.30am, when a car skidded near the 5km mark for the Half Marathoners. Some of the runners stopped to help the victim.
During the prize presentation ceremony, main organiser Isuzu Malaysia presented RM17,000 raised from the event to two charity bodies for two local organisations.
One of them is Hope Place Kuching, which distributes basic food aid and daily necessities to the underprivileged. The other is the Kuching Disabled People Association, which provides vocational training to underprivileged and disabled youth.
Isuzu's chief executive officer Koji Nakamura said that it was the first time the company had sponsored the prestigious annual event.
"There are many Isuzu customers in East Malaysia, as compared to Peninsular Malaysia.
"We hope that we could be closer to the people of Kuching through (corporate) participation in such (community) events," Nakamura added.