New names took all the podium honors in the fifth Maybank Bali Marathon (MBM) on Sunday, with Kenyan runners continuing to dominate the annual race held in Gianyar regency.

Julius Kangethe Mbugua was the first runner to cross the finish line in the men’s full marathon open category at two hours, 29 minutes and 46 seconds. He dethroned fellow Kenyans Mbogo Elijah Mwaniki and Kennedy Kiproo Lilan.

Mwaniki was last year’s winner in the category, while Lilan used to be known as “the king of MBM” and was a three-time champion from 2012 to 2014 of the 42-kilometer full marathon.

As in the previous years, the men’s full marathon open category remained an all-Kenyan celebration. Kiprop Tonui was runner-up of the category, defeating Charles Kipsang who passed the finish line five minutes later.

Mbugua expressed his satisfaction about winning the race amid the fierce competition.

“Running for me is a challenge. I also get the chance to go to many places and meet many people. It’s good to be in Bali to join this marathon,” he said, adding that he would come again next year and invite his Kenyan peers to take part in the race.

The Kenyan domination continued with the victory of Edinah Jeruto in the women’s full marathon open category, clocking the best time of 2:55:45. Irene Kipchumba had to settle for second place with 2:56:49, followed by Everlin Nyamu Attancha in 3:02:27.

Jeruto expressed her gratitude, saying that all the effort she had put in to fly from Kenya to compete in the race had paid off.

In this year’s race, contested by some 7,800 runners, Kenyan participants also swept the top two places in the men’s half marathon open category, with Stanley Kipkoech Kirui in first place and Barnaba Sigei in second place. However, Indonesian Agus Prayogo spoiled the Kenyan clean sweep by taking third place in the category.

In the women’s half marathon open category, Indonesian Yanita Sari came second after Kenyan Gladys Jepkechei Tarus, who savored the glory after last year’s achievement as the third winner in the category. Coming in at third place was Indonesian Odekta Vina, who was last year’s champion in the women’s half marathon Indonesian category.

Hamdan Sayuti retained the national champion of the men’s full marathon, beating Wiryawan Jaya Subangkit and Bambang Giyono. In the women’s division, Meri M. Paijo came first at 3:02:35.

Hamdan said he had been training since around four months ago for both the Bali Marathon and National Sports Week (PON).

“Bali Marathon and PON are held almost at the same time, so I had to focus on both events. I also found this year’s marathon to be more challenging. There were a lot of newcomers in the race,” he said.

Jauhari Johan and Saiin Alim also maintained their titles as winner and runner up, respectively, of the men’s half marathon Indonesian category.

Continuing the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative it began with the first race in 2012, Maybank Indonesia this year provided work capital support grants to 10 best cooperatives, as well as school equipment to students of 28 schools located along the course of the race.

The company also donated funds from the Maybank Foundation to the Center for Empowerment of the Disabled (Puspadi) in Bali. The funds will also be used as working capital to improve their productivity and distribution of wheelchairs.  

In line with the program to empower people with disabilities, the MBM also included a 10K wheelchair race, with around 50 athletes with a range of physical disabilities taking part in the international marathon.

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