KLSCM 2026 Day 2: Ezekiel Kemboi Wins Full Marathon as Yeow Ni Jia Claims Malaysian Title

KLSCM 2026 Day 2: Ezekiel Kemboi Wins Full Marathon as Yeow Ni Jia Claims Malaysian Title, marking an unforgettable morning of high-stakes long-distance running across Kuala Lumpur's landmark streets. The 18th edition of the Kuala Lumpur Standard Chartered Marathon (KLSCM) 2026 wrapped up on Sunday, 4 October 2026, delivering dramatic finishes, personal bests, and national milestones. 

KLSCM 2026 ASICS Half Marathon VIPs Before Flag Off

Featuring over 43,800 total participants from 53 countries —including 3,600 international runners, Malaysia's premier distance running event once again proved its status as a World Athletics Elite Label race.

KLSCM 2026 Day 2

Men's Open: Kenyan Sweep Led by Ezekiel Kemboi

The Full Marathon Men’s Open came down to a thrilling, high-intensity sprint finish. Kenya's Ezekiel Kemboi edged out defending champion John Nzau Mwangangi to take the crown and the US$15,000 (RM61,065) prize purse.

KLSCM 2026 Full Marathon Winners Men's Open

Kemboi crossed the line in 2:21:19, just eight seconds ahead of Mwangangi (2:21:27). Compatriot Moses Kibet Kipsang rounded out the Kenyan sweep in third place with a time of 2:21:32.

Kemboi, who last competed at KLSCM in 2023, prepared in Eldoret, Kenya, to mirror Malaysia’s warm conditions:

"I did not really have a strategy for today and came to the race deciding to give it a try. It was hot and humid but I was lucky today." — Ezekiel Kemboi, Full Marathon Men's Open Champion

Women's Open: Ethiopia's Alemitu Ajema Lema Secures Top Spot

In the Full Marathon Women’s Open, Ethiopia’s Alemitu Ajema Lema took gold with an impressive finishing time of 2:39:29.

KLSCM 2026 Full Marathon Winners Women's Open

Kenya’s Lucy Nthenya Ndambuki secured second place in 2:39:59, while her compatriot Caroline Cheptonui Kilel took third place with a time of 2:40:17.

Malaysian Categories: SEA Games 2027 Longlist Qualifiers

With KLSCM 2026 serving as the official preliminary selection event for the SEA Games 2027 marathon category, stakes were exceptionally high for Malaysia's elite distance runners.

Men's Malaysian Category: Yeow Ni Jia Defends Title

Defending champion Yeow Ni Jia, 26, crossed the line in 2:33:52 to claim the Malaysian title and set a new local personal best, securing his spot on the SEA Games 2027 longlist.

KLSCM 2026 Full Marathon Winners Men Malaysian

Lai Yi Hng finished second with a time of 2:34:16, followed by national record holder Tan Huong Leong in third at 2:39:17.

"I decided to go with the flow today. My goal was to secure a podium spot as well as make the SEA Games longlist and of course, defend the title. I was hoping to clock below 2:35 and because of the competitive field, I managed to get my local personal best. I will be taking a little break after this to recover from previous injuries." — Yeow Ni Jia, Full Marathon Malaysian Men's Champion

Women's Malaysian Category: Esther Joy Chen Wins Debut Marathon

In her first-ever 42.195km race, 22-year-old Esther Joy Chen Hong Li took the Malaysian Women's title with a time of 3:05:22. Elaine Koon placed second (3:12:43), and Lai Wei Ling earned third (3:14:37).

KLSCM 2026 Full Marathon Winners Women Malaysian

 

"I decided to give it a shot after hearing about KLSCM being the preliminary selection event for the 2027 SEA Games. My coach adapted my training for a marathon block and our strategy was to go big or go home. He gave me a rough pace to follow and my goal was to finish the race. It would have been nice to also clock a Sub-3." — Esther Joy Chen Hong Li, Full Marathon Malaysian Women's Champion

Race Results Summary

In the Men's Open category, Kenya swept the podium with Ezekiel Kemboi taking gold in 2:21:19, followed by John Nzau Mwangangi in 2:21:27 for silver, and Moses Kibet Kipsang claiming bronze in 2:21:32. The Women's Open saw Ethiopia's Alemitu Ajema Lema win the top spot with a time of 2:39:29, while Kenya's Lucy Nthenya Ndambuki (2:39:59) and Caroline Cheptonui Kilel (2:40:17) secured second and third places respectively.

KLSCM 2026 Full Marathon Winners Men Veteran

KLSCM 2026 Full Marathon Winners Women Veteran

KLSCM 2026 Full Marathon Winners Men Malaysian Veteran

KLSCM 2026 ASICS Half Marathon WinnersnMen Open

KLSCM 2026 ASICS Half Marathon Winners Men Malaysian Veteran

KLSCM 2026 ASICS Half Marathon Winners Men Veteran

KLSCM 2026 ASICS Half Marathon Winners Women Malaysian

KLSCM 2026 ASICS Half Marathon Winners Women Veteran

For the local categories, Yeow Ni Jia captured the Malaysian Men's title with a new local personal best of 2:33:52, followed by Lai Yi Hng in second (2:34:16) and Tan Huong Leong in third (2:39:17). In the Malaysian Women's category, marathon debutant Esther Joy Chen Hong Li clinched victory in 3:05:22, ahead of Elaine Koon in second place (3:12:43) and Lai Wei Ling in third (3:14:37).

Community Impact & Record Fundraising

More than 27,000 runners took to the streets on Sunday for the Full and Half Marathon categories, following Saturday's IHH 10km and 5km events at Dataran Merdeka.

Through the Run For A Reason (RFAR) charity initiative, participants raised over RM1.1 million prior to race weekend. Beneficiaries for 2026 include:

• Standard Chartered Foundation
• Hospis Malaysia
• Kechara Soup Kitchen
• Teach for Malaysia
• Malaysian Congenital Heart Foundation (Yayasan Jantung Kongenital Malaysia)

Fundraising remains open until 12 October 2026.

Key Race Flag-Offs & Leadership Statements

Full Marathon Flag-Off: Dato’ Indera Mohd Shahar Abdullah (Deputy Minister of Economy), alongside Mushahid Syed (Interim CEO & CFO, Standard Chartered Malaysia) and Chairman Tan Sri Shahril Ridzuan.

ASICS Half Marathon Flag-Off: Datuk Chang Lih Kang (Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation), accompanied by Boon Tib Soom Nik (Country Manager, ASICS Malaysia), Mushahid Syed, Tan Sri Shahril, and Bilal Parvaiz (CEO, Standard Chartered Saadiq Malaysia).

"We are humbled by the overwhelming response we have and continue to receive from everyone. This year, more than 3,600 of 43,800 runners have travelled to Kuala Lumpur specifically to take part in the event. We are always committed to providing a world-class race for everyone and try to raise the bar a little higher every year." — Rainer Biemans, Project Director of KLSCM & Director of Dirigo Events

"We're proud to be the title sponsor of KLSCM for the 18th year running and are honoured to have witnessed it grow into Malaysia's premier distance running event... This underscores Malaysia as a nation with a strong sporting heritage and culture that resonates internationally." — Mushahid Syed, Interim CEO, Standard Chartered Malaysia

Organized and owned by Dirigo Events, KLSCM 2026 is supported by:

Title Sponsor: Standard Chartered Malaysia

Gold Sponsors: ASICS, IHH Healthcare

Official Partners: 100 Plus, Counterpain, Dynamo, High5 Nutrition, Seiko, TudungPeople

Sanctioning Bodies & Hosts: Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), Malaysia Athletics, World Athletics, AIMS, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Kuala Lumpur Traffic Police, LLM, Kesturi, PROLINTAS, and MyCEB.

For more information and updates, please visit the KLSCM 

Website:  www.kl-marathon.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/KLSCMarathon

Instagram: www.instagram.com/klscmarathon

TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@klscmarathon