Penang Bridge International Marathon

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Penang Bridge International Marathon
20111022 Sunrise - Penang Bridge.jpg
Penang Bridge at sunrise
Datelate November
Location Penang, Malaysia
Event type Road (mostly on a bridge)
Distance Marathon
Established1984(40 years ago) (1984) [a]
Course recordsMen: 2:19:47.1 (2014)
Flag of Kenya.svg Alex Melly
Women: 2:46:44.9 (2017)
Flag of Kenya.svg Margaret Wangui
Official site Penang Bridge Marathon
Participants25,000 (all races) (2019) [1]

The Penang Bridge International Marathon (Malay : Maraton Antarabangsa Jambatan Pulau Pinang) or Penang Bridge Marathon is an annual marathon event held at Penang Bridge in Penang, Malaysia, since 1984. [a] It is organised by Penang State Tourism Development office (PETACH) and fully supported by the Penang State Government. It is known as the biggest run in the country.[ citation needed ] During the competition, participants run over the bridge and along a scenic coastal highway. [3]

Contents

History

The event started in 1984 [a] as a road race from Esplanade to Gurney Drive. With the completion of Penang Bridge in 1985, it is usually held there in late November annually since 1986, with the exception of 2014 and 2024 when the events were held at Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge which is also known as the Penang Second Bridge. [3] The 2014 edition began in Batu Maung, while the 2024 edition began in Batu Kawan.

In 2006, after a break for a number of years, the Penang Bridge International Marathon was revived as "a combination" of the Penang International Marathon, which was last held in 1999, and the Penang Bridge Run, which had been held from 1992 to 2003. [5]

In 2020, the competition was rebranded with the introduction of the new logo as well as the tagline "The Asian Challenge", reflecting the vision of making it into an internationally acknowledged marathon run event. [6]

Controversies

In 2016, the event was rescheduled in order to accommodate requests from the parents of schoolchildren, causing trouble for runners who had already booked flights for the race. [7]

In 2017, there were a number of issues, including issuing shirts of incorrect sizes, running out of water, handing out expired chocolate bars, delaying the reporting of results, [b] and denying some podium finishers an onstage presentation. [c] [8] [7] [9] In addition, some runners waited for two hours for finisher medals, and over three hours for food. [8] [9]

Cancellations

In 2018, the 10k race was cancelled for the first time "due to heavy rain and lightning", with all registered runners given finisher medals as a consolation. [10] [d]

The 2020 in-person edition of the race was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, with all entries automatically transferred to 2021, and all registrants given the option of transferring their entry to another runner. [11] [12]

Course

External image
Searchtool.svg Course map of full marathon in 2019 [13]

The current version of the marathon, since 2008, runs on a loop course that begins and ends at the outdoor car park of the Queensbay Mall. [13] [14]

The course first enters Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway, which runs along the eastern coast of Penang Island, with runners first running south and then back up north before turning back south to cross the 13.5 km (8.4 mi) bridge. [13] [4] Shortly after crossing the bridge, runners turn around in Perai and run across the bridge again, before heading south to finish back at the Queensbay Mall. [13]

Other races

The Penang Bridge International Marathon also incorporates a half-marathon event and a 10-km run event. The competition also had an 8 km fun run event, but it was removed in 2018 as part of rebranding exercise. [15] The organiser originally planned to remove the 10-km run competition as well by 2020, but chose to continue due to popular demand. [16]

Winners

Open category

Key:    Course record

YearMen's winnerTime [e] Women's winnerTime [e] Rf.
1984Flag of the United States.svg  Budd Coates  (USA)2:29:59Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Leslie Watson  (GBR)3:02:43 [2]
1985Flag of Japan.svg  Hiroaki Oyagi  (JPN)2:27:52Flag of Hong Kong 1959.svg  Fung-fan Wong  (HKG)3:01:08 [2]
1986Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg  Shin Yen-ho  (TPE)2:28:14Flag of Japan.svg  Satsuko Hanafusa  (JPN)2:58:00 [2]
1987Flag of the Philippines.svg  Jimmy de la Torre  (PHI)2:29:52Flag of Japan.svg  Satsuko Hanafusa  (JPN)2:54:58 [2]
1988Flag of the United States.svg  Doug Kurtis  (USA)2:29:40Flag of Japan.svg  Satsuko Hanafusa  (JPN)3:10:24 [2]
1989Flag of Malaysia.svg  Amaram Raman  (MYS)2:35:09Flag of India.svg  Sunita Godara  (IND)3:03:02 [2]
1990Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Trevor Scott  (AUS)2:34:13Flag of India.svg  Sunita Godara  (IND)3:00:56 [2]
1991Flag of Chinese Taipei for Olympic games.svg  Hsu Gi-sheng  (TPE)2:29:29Flag of India.svg  Sunita Godara  (IND)3:01:29 [2]
1992Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Trevor Scott  (AUS)2:31:15Flag of India.svg  Sunita Godara  (IND)2:55:06 [2]
1993Flag of Kenya.svg  Daniel Shungea  (KEN)2:26:12Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Karen Moir  (AUS)2:55:12 [2]
1994Flag of Kenya.svg  Daniel Shungea  (KEN)2:28:59Flag of Italy.svg  Franca Fiacconi  (ITA)2:56:49 [2]
—not held from 1995 to 2002 [f]
8 June 2003Flag of Kenya.svg  John Kelai  (KEN)2:29:56Flag of Malaysia.svg  Yuan Yufang  (MYS)3:09:19 [17]
—not held from 2004 to 2005 [5]
30 July 2006Flag of Kenya.svg  Samuel Tarus  (KEN)2:37:11Flag of Malaysia.svg  Devamani Sothie  (MYS)3:21:02
24 June 2007Flag of Kenya.svg  Sammy Kurgat  (KEN)2:26:00Flag of Malaysia.svg  Devamani Sothie  (MYS)3:16:02
16 November 2008Flag of Kenya.svg  Benjamin Metto  (KEN)2:24:50Flag of Kenya.svg  Doris Chepchumba  (KEN)3:14:04
22 November 2009Flag of Kenya.svg  Kennedy Melly  (KEN)2:23:55Flag of Kenya.svg  Doris Chepchumba  (KEN)3:08:37
21 November 2010Flag of Kenya.svg  Alex Melly  (KEN)2:24:30Flag of Kenya.svg  Rose Chesire  (KEN)2:59:14 [2]
20 November 2011Flag of Kenya.svg  Charles Kigen  (KEN)2:21:56.9Flag of Kenya.svg  Margaret Wangui  (KEN)3:06:38.6 [2]
18 November 2012Flag of Kenya.svg  Isaac Kimaiyo  (KEN)2:31:02Flag of Germany.svg  Monika Fischer  (GER)3:25:10 [2]
17 November 2013Flag of Kenya.svg  James Cherutich  (KEN)2:24:42.8Flag of Kenya.svg  Naomi Wangui  (KEN)2:53:03.7 [2]
16 November 2014Flag of Kenya.svg  Alex Melly  (KEN)2:19:47.1Flag of Kenya.svg  Fridah Lodepa  (KEN)3:04:09.6 [18] [19]
22 November 2015Flag of Kenya.svg  Julius Seurei  (KEN)2:22:04.9Flag of Kenya.svg  Fridah Lodepa  (KEN)2:47:46.2 [18] [20]
27 November 2016Flag of Kenya.svg  Bernard Muthoni  (KEN)2:27:42.0Flag of Kenya.svg  Margaret Wangui  (KEN)2:53:07.3 [18] [21]
26 November 2017Flag of Kenya.svg  Josphat Too  (KEN)2:23:30.2Flag of Kenya.svg  Margaret Wangui  (KEN)2:46:44.9 [18] [21]
25 November 2018Flag of Kenya.svg  James Tallam  (KEN)2:24:22.0Flag of Kenya.svg  Peninah Kigen  (KEN)2:46:52.9 [18] [22]
24 November 2019Flag of Kenya.svg  Moses Kiptoo  (KEN)2:20:05Flag of Kenya.svg  Peninah Kigen  (KEN)2:51:50 [23]
–Cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic from 2020 to 2021 [11]
11 December 2022Flag of Kenya.svg Geoffrey Birgen (KEN)2:14:35Flag of Kenya.svg Peninah Kigen (KEN)2:46:07 [24]
17 December 2023Flag of Kenya.svg Anderson Saitoti Seroi (KEN)2:18:43Flag of Kenya.svg Truphena Chepchirchir (KEN)2:44:41 [25]
15 December 2024Flag of Kenya.svg Moses Mbugua Gaikarira (KEN)2:18:34Flag of Kenya.svg Rita Jeptoo Busienei (KEN)2:40:01 [26]

Malaysian category

DateMen's winnerTime (h:m:s)Women's winnerTime (h:m:s)Ref
25 November 2018Nik Fakaruddin Ismail2:45:54Loh Chooi Fern3:17:30
24 November 2019Nik Fakaruddin Ismail2:40:53Noor Amelia Musa3:18:51
–Cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic from 2020 to 2021 [11]
11 December 2022Poo Vasanthan Subramaniam2:37:59Noor Amelia Musa3:16:21 [27]
17 December 2023Nik Fakaruddin Ismail2:43:57Noor Amelia Musa3:14:36
15 December 2024Muhamad Haziq Hamzah2:46:19Tiffany Lee Siok Chin3:16:15

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 The Association of Road Racing Statisticians believes 1982 was the inaugural year, but does not have any details regarding the winners of that year. [2] Also, the first time the run was held on the bridge was 1986, since the bridge was completed in 1985. [3] [4]
  2. ↑ Runners complained that full results had not been posted by evening, with one runner complaining that the results had incorrectly stated that the runner had "withdrawn during [the] race". [8] [7]
  3. ↑ One 17-year-old girl, who placed second in her category, was left "sob[bing] uncontrollably" when she learned that she had to collect her prize at a booth. [9]
  4. ↑ Yeoh Soon Hin, the organizing chairman, stated that the 10k race could not be postponed as the bridge had to be reopened by a certain time. [10] The full and half marathons, however, had begun hours earlier. [10]
  5. 1 2 h:m:s
  6. ↑ The Star reports that the Penang International Marathon was held until 1999 and the Penang Bridge Run was held until 2003. [5]

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References

  1. ↑ "Penang Bridge International Marathon 2019 attracts 25,000 runners".
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 "Penang Marathon".
  3. 1 2 3 "About - Penang Marathon".
  4. 1 2 "Penang Bridge turns 25 this year".
  5. 1 2 3 "Bridge run returns as marathon event".
  6. ↑ "Launching of new logo for Penang Bridge International Marathon". Penang Bridge International Marathon.
  7. 1 2 3 "Handling of Penang Bridge International Marathon continues to draw flak | New Straits Times". 29 November 2017.
  8. 1 2 3 "Penang Bridge marathon continues to draw flak, participants vent anger on Facebook | New Straits Times". 28 November 2017.
  9. 1 2 3 Nambiar, Predeep (27 November 2017). "Penang Bridge run 'sia-sui', runners complain as medals run out". Free Malaysia Today. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  10. 1 2 3 "Kenyans dominate Penang Bridge Marathon; 10km category axed over rain | New Straits Times". 25 November 2018.
  11. 1 2 3 "Penang Bridge International Marathon Turns Virtual".
  12. ↑ "Exco: Penang cancelling year-end activities, celebrations | Malay Mail". 5 September 2020.
  13. 1 2 3 4 "Site Map & Route Map". Archived from the original on 19 October 2019.
  14. ↑ "Full Marathon (42.195 km)".
  15. ↑ "No more fun run for Penang bridge marathon".
  16. ↑ "Yeoh: PBIM will omit 10km run from 2020". 28 February 2019.
  17. ↑ "Malaysian Yufang and Kenyan Kelai come out tops".
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 https://web.archive.org/web/20200908231251/https://www.penangmarathon.gov.my/portal/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Marathon-2019-guidebook-web.pdf
  19. ↑ "Kenyans in top form".
  20. ↑ "Fridah Chepkite LODEPA | Profile | World Athletics".
  21. 1 2 "ARRS - Runner: Margaret Wangui Njuguna".
  22. ↑ "Runners weather the storm".
  23. ↑ "Married couple wins 2019 Penang Bridge Int'l full marathon | New Straits Times". 24 November 2019.
  24. ↑ "Kenyans complete clean sweep as Penang Bridge International Marathon returns after two-year hiatus". Malay Mail. Bernama. 11 December 2022.
  25. ↑ "A sea of determination". Buletin Mutiara. 17 December 2023.
  26. ↑ "PBIM 2024: A milestone in Penang's global sports tourism journey". Buletin Mutiara. 15 December 2024.
  27. ↑ "Setting a higher dream for Penang Bridge International Marathon". Buletin Mutiara. 11 December 2022.
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