In-form Kenyan completes five laps at the zoo to win race

source from star-metro (by Ng Wei Loon)

KENYAN Nicholas Merica continued to set an unbeatable pace in the Wild Wild Run hosted by the Pacemakers at the National Zoo in Ampang recently.

The 24-year-old newcomer to the local running scene completed five laps around the 1.85km circuit and clocked 31:48 to emerge as champion in the men’s 29 years and below section.

Strolling around the zoo: Merica setting the pace at the run.

Merica finished with more than a minute advantage ahead of Ghanian Richard Habeya (33:15) while local Jasni Khairil came in third (34:24)

Pacemakers captain Ronnie See said Merica was in good form and other competitors found it hard to keep up with him.

Merica began his debut season on a good note when he bagged the men’s open (16 years and above) 30km category at the fourth Great Eastern Pacesetters 30km Run before settling for the second spot in the men’s open section at the KL Tower International Forest Towerthon Challenge at Menara Kuala Lumpur.

Meanwhile, the fairer sex only completed four laps on the circuit with Ameba Chan Chui Miew stamping her mark as the best performer. She registered 36:36 to clinch the top spot in the women’s 34 years and below category.

The meet drew 130 runners in five categories — men’s 29 years and below, men’s 30 to 39 years, men’s 40 years and above, women’s 34 years and below and women’s 35 years and above.

When they began registration in February, it took them only four days to reach the maximum capacity of participants.

“It was an unique event because they had fun savouring a different experience. Running around the cool and lush surrounding in the presence of animals was certainly the highlight of the day,” said See, who set up the http://pm1.blogspot.com to cater to recreational runners in the Klang Valley.

Besides the 30 volunteers from the group, zoo employees also helped the organisers to direct the runners around the undulating terrain.

At the end of the event, five winners also went home with a hamper each from the lucky draws.

Saucony was the main sponsor of the run. Two other partners were Ccube Sports Hub and Milo.

This year, the group began their season and ushered the New Year with the third edition of the Pacemakers Network Run at the Lake Gardens in Kuala Lumpur.

And See also hinted they are considering to organise their third event of the season with a night run schedule at Putrajaya in August.

RESULTS

> MEN’S

- 29 years and below: 1. Nicholas Merica (Kenya) 31:48, 2. Richard Habeya 33:15, 3. Jasni Khairil 34:24

- 30 to 39 years: 1. Casey Lim Khon Seng 33:16, 2. Murali Nathan 33:31, 3. Rozmi Yunus 36:01

- 40 years and above: 1. Ridzuan Sulaiman 36:58, 2. Mohd Sowoto Indi 38:22, 3. Alam Shah Ismail Ahmad 38:51

> WOMEN’S

- 34 years and below: 1. Ameba Chan Chui Miew 36:36, 2. Haslinda Dollah 38:08, 3. Chan Yen Nee 40:40

- 35 years and above: 1. Carol Low Peng Keat 42:06, 2. Veronica Schokman 43:01, 3. Wong Mee Yoong 43:26