KUALA LUMPUR: Acting Malaysia Athletics president Datuk Wan Hisham Wan Salleh said the decision to use the Kuala Lumpur Standard Chartered Marathon (KLSCM) as the official preliminary selection event for the marathon category at the 2027 SEA Games marks the national body’s first step towards revolutionising marathon development in the country.
Wan Hisham said besides the KLSCM, Malaysia Athletics also plans to collaborate with the organisers of several notable marathons across Malaysia.
Among the events mentioned were the Langkawi Marathon and the Penang Bridge Run. He added that the national body will also work with a private organiser to stage inter-club competitions.
“We will sign the memorandum of understanding soon. The collaboration with Dirigo Events, the rights holder and organiser of the KLSCM, is just the first step,” said Wan Hisham.
“KLSCM is the biggest marathon event in Malaysia, and we are excited to partner with Dirigo Events with the SEA Games a year away.
“This is only the beginning. We have entered a new era, and we want to ensure our athletes, especially our marathon runners, receive the support and structured development they need.”
Wan Hisham said he was particularly excited about the proposed inter-club competitions, noting that the current competition structure is largely state-based.
“Sometimes these runners are outside the system. Some of them are very talented but only compete in community events,” he said.
“Hopefully, by working with clubs, we can unearth hidden talent and help them reach their full potential.”
Wan Hisham was quick to add that national athletes eyeing a place in the SEA Games squad are free to compete in any sanctioned event, as long as they meet the timing criteria.
“For males, the top five runners must complete the marathon in under 2’45 minutes. For females, the cut-off is below 3’15 minutes,” he said.
Separately, Wan Hisham said the national body will announce its new sprint coach in the coming week.
