The Full Marathon and Half Marathon categories of the Kuala Lumpur Standard Chartered Marathon (KLSCM) 2026 delivered fierce competition among the top runners this morning, including a close Kenyan sweep in the Men's Open and a new local personal best in the Malaysian race. KLSCM is the official preliminary selection event for the marathon category at SEA Games 2027.
KLSCM 2026 Full Marathon Results
Men's Open
- 🥇 Ezekiel Kemboi (Kenya): 02:21:19, winning US$15,000 (RM61,065)
- 🥈 John Nzau Mwangangi (Kenya, defending champion): 02:21:27
- 🥉 Moses Kibet Kipsang (Kenya): 02:21:32
Kemboi, who last raced at KLSCM in 2023, trained in Eldoret, Kenya, where conditions are similar to Malaysia's. "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," he said.
Women's Open
- 🥇 Alemitu Ajema Lema (Ethiopia): 02:39:29
- 🥈 Lucy Nthenya Ndambuki (Kenya): 02:39:59
- 🥉 Caroline Cheptonui Kilel (Kenya): 02:40:17
Malaysian Men
- 🥇 Yeow Ni Jia: 2:33:52 (new local personal best)
- 🥈 Lai Yi Hng: 02:34:16
- 🥉 Tan Huong Leong (national record holder): 02:39:17
"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," said Yeow, 26. "I will be taking a little break after this to recover from previous injuries."
Malaysian Women
- 🥇 Esther Joy Chen Hong Li: 3:05:22 (first-ever full marathon)
- 🥈 Elaine Koon: 03:12:43
- 🥉 Lai Wei Ling: 03:14:37
Chen, 22, said she decided to give the marathon a shot after hearing KLSCM was the SEA Games 2027 preliminary selection event. "My coach adapted my training for a marathon block and our strategy was to go big or go home," she said.
Flag-Off Highlights
The Full Marathon was flagged off by Deputy Minister of Economy Dato' Indera Mohd Shahar Abdullah, joined by Mushahid Syed, Interim CEO of title sponsor Standard Chartered Malaysia, and Chairman Tan Sri Shahril Ridzuan. Mushahid also ran the ASICS Half Marathon under the Run For A Reason (RFAR) programme, raising funds for the Standard Chartered Foundation.
The ASICS Half Marathon was flagged off by Datuk Chang Lih Kang, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, together with Boon Tib Soom Nik (Country Manager, ASICS Malaysia), Mushahid, Tan Sri Shahril and Bilal Parvaiz, CEO of Standard Chartered Saadiq Malaysia.
KLSCM 2026 by the Numbers
- 27,000+ runners on Day 2 across Kuala Lumpur's streets and highways
- 43,800 registered participants, a record, from 53 countries
- 3,600 international participants
- RM1.1 million+ raised through RFAR before race weekend
Day 1 saw the IHH 10km and 5km categories flag off from and finish at Dataran Merdeka.
Run For A Reason: Over RM1.1 Million Raised
The RFAR programme lets runners raise funds for charity while racing. Returning beneficiaries are the Standard Chartered Foundation, Hospis Malaysia, Kechara Soup Kitchen and Teach for Malaysia. The Malaysian Congenital Heart Foundation (Yayasan Jantung Kongenital Malaysia) joins as a new beneficiary this year. Fundraising remains open until 12 October.
What Organisers and Sponsors Said
Rainer Biemans, Project Director of KLSCM and Director of Dirigo Events, the rights holder and organiser: "We are truly appreciative of the support for KLSCM 2026 that has been shown by the running community and our sponsors and partners. 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. We are also grateful that KLSCM has once again been awarded the prestigious World Athletics Elite Label."
On medical readiness, he said: "The health and safety of our runners is paramount and we strive to ensure a higher elevated medical preparedness level every year with aid from our Medic-on the Run team."
On RFAR, he said: "The overall fundraising remains open until 12 October and we would like to encourage everyone to donate generously to these worthy causes."
Mushahid Syed, Interim CEO & Head of Coverage, and CFO, Standard Chartered Malaysia: "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. KLSCM continues to notch new achievements, most recently as the official Preliminary Selection Event for SEA Games 2027."
He added: "KLSCM has evolved to be much more than a race. It has become a platform for community inclusion and collective achievement by bringing together runners of different ages, background and nationalities."
Looking Ahead: KLSCM 2027
With a record 43,800 runners, a second consecutive World Athletics Elite Label and the SEA Games 2027 selection race now done, the 18th edition sets a high bar for what comes next. The 19th edition of the Kuala Lumpur Standard Chartered Marathon will aim to go further, with organisers promising to "raise the bar a little higher every year."
Here's what to watch for next year:
- The SEA Games 2027 build-up: Yeow Ni Jia, Esther Joy Chen Hong Li and the rest of Malaysia's marathoners will be chasing a place on the national team.
- A rematch in the Men's Open: Kemboi edged defending champion Mwangangi by just eight seconds, so a return battle would be worth the ticket alone.
- New runners stepping up: Muhammad Haziq said he'd love to try the Half or Full Marathon after his IHH 10km win, and plenty of first-timers will be inspired to follow.
- A bigger Run For A Reason: After raising over RM1.1 million, RFAR runners will look to beat that record.
Whether you're chasing a podium, a personal best or your first finish line, now is the time to start your training block.
See you at Dataran Merdeka next year.
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