KUALA LUMPUR: Yusof Abdul Manan made history today by clinching Malaysia's first-ever podium finish in the Skyrunner World Series at the Kailas Penang Skyrace in Georgetown, Penang.
Yusof secured third place with a time of 5:48:08s, conquering the gruelling 42-kilometre course with an elevation gain of 2,822 meters on the iconic Penang Hill.
"This race was incredibly tough. The elevation, the terrain, and the unpredictable weather made it more technical," said Yusof.
"It was raining in the morning, and by the end of the race, it was scorching hot. At one point,
"I almost lost my soft flask, but luckily I managed to retrieve it. I was worried they'd disqualify me if I didn't have all the mandatory items."
Italy's Lorenzo Beltrami and Spain's Lide Urrestarazu were crowned champions in the men's and women's events, respectively.
Marking Malaysia's return to the Skyrunner World Series for the first time since 2010, the event attracted 901 runners from 30 countries.
A total of 321 elite athletes took on the prestigious Skyrace category, with heavy rain at the start line adding another layer of difficulty to the already challenging technical sections.
Beltrami delivered a commanding performance, finishing in 4:17:14, ahead of Spain's Ioseba Eskudero (4:53:31).
"I'm really happy with this victory. It was a tough race, very technical, with mud, rain, and darkness," said Beltrami.
"From the second half, I went at my own pace. This was one of my goals, and I feel strong for the finals in Valencia in two weeks."
In the women's race, Urrestarazu gave an exceptional performance, mastering the tough conditions to finish in 5:16:37.
She skillfully navigated through early rain and used later showers to cool down.
"I enjoyed the race. It was a new climate for me with high humidity and heat," Urrestarazu said. "I started slowly, pacing myself and staying hydrated. I especially loved the technical jungle sections.
"The final asphalt stretch was tough with the heat and distance, but I enjoyed every moment."
The race saw strong local representation, with Malaysian athletes Lee Min Xiang and Amierul Amin Shamsul Kamal completing the men's top five.
Lim Siok Har and Ang Yee Mei represented Malaysia in the women's top five, all delivering impressive performances despite the challenging conditions.
RESULTS (Top 5)
Men: 1. Lorenzo Beltrami (Ita) 4:17:14s, 2. Ioseba Eskudero (Spa) 4:53:31 3. Yusof Abdul Manan (Mas) 5:48:08 4. Lee Min Xiang (Mas) 5:53:17 5. Amierul Amin Shamsul Kamal (Mas) 6:09:45.
Women: 1. Lide Urrestarazu (Spa) 5:16:37, 2. Iris Pessey (Fra) 5:25:06, 3. Marcela Vasinova (Cze) 5:53:57, 4. Lim Siok Har (Mas) 7:00:45, 5. Ang Yee Mei (Mas) 7:04:51.