Steven Ong wins EcoTrail Putrajaya

Home runner and 2017 Asia Trail Master Champion Steven Ong has comfortably won the inaugural edition of EcoTrail Putrajaya in Malaysia da solo. The event is a 2020 Asia Trail Master Candidate Race. Steven Ong took control after roughly 25 km and never looked back. Indonesia’s Hendra Siswanto was a challenger initially but took some wrong turns and lost a lot of time, eventually putting him out of the race. Nepalese runner Kajiman Rai was next, but he too missed a marking towards the end during a downpour of rain. Jeffery Budin (MAS) and Yim Heng Fatt benefited and scored second and third on the podium. Rai still made it in fourth, Jacques Pasquier (SUI), who has done every single EcoTrail in the world, was fifth.

Syariffah Syazrah won the women’s 80km, her debut on that race distance. Running consistently and smart, she stayed out of trouble. An impressive ultra debut for the young Malaysian. Experienced runners Faherina Mohd Esa and Tan Hongping came in jointly as second and third as the sky had opened the gates again.

50km: Singapore-based Spaniard Pablo Diago Gonzales won it in 5h43’26”. Early leader Liau Chin Lee was second and Saiful Iswadi came third. Siti Khadijah was number one in the women’s race after playing yo-yo with Indonesia’s Ina Budiyarni, who then got lost and had to settle for third. Goh Joo Sing was second.

EcoTrail is a brand concept event hailing from France focusing on eco-sustainability and raising environmental awareness. The event in Putrajaya was the first EcoTrail in Asia and set to return on 17 October 2020.

Syariffah Syazrah was a great winner in the female race over 80 km

Steven Ong on the way to victory in EcoTrail Putrajaya / Photo credit: Fadil Othman

Grandmaster Ina Budiyarni looked like the fastest, but missed a marking and lost time.

Siawhua Lim came in fourth on her traditional slipper shoes

Faherina Mohd Esa and Renee Tan enjoyed their joint-run in the pouring rain at the end