Brunei Darussalam’s trail runners enjoyed a podium finish in The Most Beautiful Thing (TMBT) Ultra-Trail Marathon 2023 after securing silver and bronze in the 7.5-kilometre (km) event overall in Sabah, Malaysia yesterday.
The nation’s experienced trail runner Shamsuleffandy bin Haji Sulaiman sealed silver after registering a time of 00:44:59 while his compatriot Suhail Salleh claimed bronze after recording a time of 00:51:29.
It added to Shamsuleffandy’s haul of podium finishes in as many days after collecting silver in the overall 30km event last Saturday.
Shamsuleffandy also won his age group in the men’s veteran category while Suhail clinched runners-up place in the men’s 13-44 years category.
The Santai Group running team pair only needed to chase after Malaysia’s Aznil who emerged victor in the 7.5km category after posting a time of 00:42:59.
The Brunei duo also shared the same podium during the Borneo Ultra Trail Marathon (BUTM) last March when Shamsuleffandy won gold and Suhail took bronze in the 9km event overall.
Brunei enjoyed a string of successes since the prestigious TMBT meet commenced, which was further highlighted following a clean sweep in the men’s veteran category of the 7.5km event.
Shamsuleffandy was joined by his fellow countrymen Mahmud Badar and Azman bin Haji Ahad, who took second and third places respectively.
Overall, the Brunei contingent had a strong showing with four top-10 finishes with Mahmud taking fifth spot and Azman in seventh.
Brunei’s series of fine results extended to multiple age groups, with female runner Rosita binti Haji Aman winning top place in the women’s veteran category.
The country’s young participant Dheyaa Leyna secured silver in the female youth category, while Pengiran Hajah Normajidah binti Pengiran Haji Rajid took silver in the women’s 13-44 years category. – Fadhil Yunus
