Andy Lee and Zoe Tan Xinyi claim victories in Penang

The competition at Penang Sky Race in Malaysia last weekend was expected to be open with a rather prestigious race win up for grabs for many competitive-minded runners. With ‘veteran’ Andy Lee and Singapore’s relative newcomer Zoe Tan Xinyi we had two runners who indeed took the opportunity with both hands.

Andy Lee has been around the scene for many years and it is great to see him on the top step of an ATM Qualifier race. He finished the race, again in very hot conditions, in 6h18. That was just four minutes ahead of the surprising and late-charging Anjeluis Palja in second place. In third on the podium we found Mustaffa Mohd Khairul Anuar. A trio of European passport holders took the next spots, with North Macedonian Antonio Karanfilofski, Spain’s Jorge Vilanova and Penang-resident and well-known Alex Tilley.

The women’s race saw the emergence of a new SIngaporean runner. Zoe Tan Xinyi turned out to be too strong for the rest of the field, of which new Grandmaster Avegail Depanay was second-fastest. Zoe Tan finished in 7h29, Depanay in 7h55. The third spot on the podium went to Canada’s Jennifer Lee.

The next Malaysian ATM Championship Qualifer is Trail des Gombak in Selangor, close to KL, in June.

Top 6:

1. Andy Lee (MAS) 6h18

2. Anjeluis Palja (MAS) 6h22

3. Mustaffa Mohd Khairul Anuar (MAS) 6h30

4. Antonio Karanfilofski (MKD) 6h42

5. Jorge Vilanova (ESP) 6h48

6. Alex Tilley (GBR) 6h48

Top 5 Women:

1. Zoe Tan Xinyi (SGP) 7h29

2. Avegail Depanay (PHI) 7h55

3. Jennifer Lee (CAN) 8h30