Kenyan Kiptoo among entries for ‘King of the Road’ race

More than 80 foreign runners including 2007 Penang Bridge Run winner Sammy Kiprop Kiptoo from Kenya are among the 10,000 participants registered for the 'King of the Road’ marathon which will be held on the New Pantai Highway here on Aug 5.

New Pantai Expressway Sdn Bhd (NPE) managing director Neoh Soon Hiong said the event, the first ever marathon held on an elavated highway, has attracted 40 Singaporeans, 20 Thais, 20 Kenyans and 5,000 school children.

“Besides them, about 5,000 participants have registered. The closing date is today but we will still accept late entries,” said Soon Hiong yesterday.

He said the ‘King of the Road’ marathon which is in its ninth edition since 1996 would for the first time feature a 21km half-marathon event.

In the previous year, the events were for the 10, 7 and 5km categories only.

The 21km event will start at Sunway Pyramid to the Kewajipan Roundabout in Subang Jaya and back to Sunway Pyramid for the finishing line.

“We have to close the entire stretch of NPE, starting from Kewajipan roundabout in Subang Jaya to the Kuchai Interchange at KL-Seremban Highway, including all 23 junctions or interchanges, for all traffic from 5am to 10am on that day.

“The total closure of the highway will make the event the safest marathon compared to other events held at highways,” he said.

Winner of the 21km event will take home RM3,000, runners-up RM2,500 and third place will receive RM2,000.