Joining in the fun: Liow taking part in the 5km fun run at Dataran Bentong, Bentong. Inset: Berecibar.

BENTONG: The town’s first Bentong Half Marathon 2017 attracted many participants, including locals and tourists, who heaped praises on the organiser for a job well done.

Spaniards Karla Lejarreta and Zigor Berecibar said they found out about Bentong’s inaugural half marathon from friends and decided to take part for the fun of it.

“I travel around South-East Asia for work. When we were told of the run, we did a quick search to find out more and registered for it.

“The closeness of Bentong to Kuala Lumpur was also another factor for us to join in the run,” saidBerecibar, who came fourth in the men’s 10km Open category.

However, there was a misfortune when an elderly participant in the Men’s 21km collapsed and died during the run.

Jimmy Liew, 71, from Kuantan, who had minutes earlier stopped at one of the water stations near a hilly section of the route, collapsed 8km from the finishing line.

First-aiders and Civil Defence Department personnel tried to revive Liew but were unsuccessful.

He was rushed to the Bentong Hospital but doctors could not save him.

Bentong MP Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, who also took part in the 5km fun run, rushed to the hospital after receiving the tragic news.

“I hope the people will go for regular medical check-ups. Senior citizens should not take part in strenuous activities unless they are in very good health,” he said.

Liow, who is also Transport Minister, said the organiser – Bentong Municipal Council – would assist in transporting Liew’s remains back to Kuantan.

On the run, Liow also praised the organiser, saying the run could be turned into a regular event as part of Bentong’s tourism calendar.

“There are a lot of advantages for participants, including the chance to enjoy the scenic route and take in the fresh air.

“I am confident it can be a very successful event and that the organiser should consider turning it into a full marathon,” said Liow.

Council’s engineering department director Ahmad Sabri Salam said a total of 1,112 participants took part in all three categories, with nearly half of them in the 21km category.

“For this, we opened up previously restricted areas such as the Chamang waterfall to give participants a scenic feel during the run.

“We also want to showcase our natural scenery and mountain views to outsiders,” Ahmad Sabri said.

Local runner Fazliana Ismail described run as “very enjoyable”.

“The directions were well-placed and water stations were also spaced out, and the views were just great,” said the 36-year-old from Kuala Krai, Kelantan.


-The STAR-