PUTRAJAYA: It may only have been a Sea Games bronze medal but to marathon runner Muhaizar Mohamad it was worth its weight in gold.
For 44 years, no Malaysian had even made the podium in the Sea Games marathon race until Muhaizar defied the odds to finish third in two hours, 31 minutes and 52 seconds, just ahead of teammate Tan Huong Leong, who was fourth a further 19 seconds behind.
Singapore's defending champion Guillaume Soh Rui Yong retained the gold medal in 2:29:27s while Indonesia's Agus Prayogo, who was running neck-and-neck with Rui Yong with four kilometres remaining, faded towards the end to take silver in 2:31:20.
"I am very happy and proud to get a medal. I was not expecting to get a medal that's why it feels like I have won gold because it has been a long time since a Malaysian won a medal in marathon," said Muhaizar, 32, who clocked a personal best, improving by three minutes.
"I have been running in marathons for four years and this is my biggest achievement. I hope it does not end here and there is more to come."
Key to achieving more success is to get a permanent coach with Muhaizar mostly training on his own at the 21st Commando Regiment Sungai Udang Camp in Melaka.
Just prior to the Sea Games, Muhaizar travelled to Baguio, Philippines to train with national distance coach Samuel Kipsang Rono for 25 days.
"It made a lot difference training at altitude and if I had more time to train with Rono there I know I could have done better," said Muhaizar.
"I tried to keep pace with Soh and Agus but they have more experience than me and I eventually fell back. I know Soh trains at altitude in Arizona which made all the difference today."
Muhaizar's medal was the first won by a Malaysian in the 42.195km race since P. Solaimuthu's bronze in 1973.
Muhaizar and Huong Leong were also the first Malaysian entries in the marathon event since 2007 when Shaharuddin Hashim finished eighth in Korat.
The Malaysian duo were in medal contention after Thailand's 2015 silver medallist Boonthung Srisung, who had been running in third place, dropped out of the race around the 30km mark with a hamstring injury.
"I did not at first know Boonthung had dropped out but I found out later I become more determined," said Muhaizar, a three-time winner of the Standard Chartered KL Marathon local category.
"I was running with Tan but towards the end I increased my speed even though I could feel my thighs getting tight. But I had enough strength to get to the finish line."
Mary Tabal of the Philippines won the women’s marathon gold in 2:48:26s with Vietnam’s Hoang Thi Thanh (2:55:43) and Thailand’s defending champion Natthaya Thanaronnawat (2:58:17) taking silver and bronze respectively.