HSL Ekiden wins over Sarawak runners

Sarawak’s first multi-stage running event, the HSL Ekiden Relay Race, took place at La Promenade Mall here on Sunday (March 29), drawing about 300 runners from nearly 60 teams across the region.

The spirited race began at 6.30am with the flag-off of the open category, followed minutes later by the veterans’ group.

Each team of five runners had to complete a 15km circuit inside La Promenade’s gated community, which was transformed into a lively race venue for the morning.

YAP: Team Haolian, led by Sally Yap (middle), won the HSL Ekiden Relay Race in the Open Category. Her team won with a time of 52 minutes 16 seconds.

Team Haolian won the open category in 52 minutes and 16 seconds, edging Millennium Runners by 12 seconds. Millennium finished second in 52:28, while RevRun placed third in 52:36.

In the veterans’ category, Team Kaliu took first place in 54:47, ahead of a second Team Haolian squad made up of older members, which finished in 56:29. U42T Team Reservoir came third in 58:45.

The fastest runner of the day was Ryan Victor, who completed his 3km leg in just 9:03, equivalent to a blistering pace of just three minutes per kilometre.

FAST: The fastest runner did 3km in 9:03, which is a blistering 3mins only for every kilometre.

Some of Sarawak’s elite runners also took part, including Sally Yap, HSL-sponsored ultra-trail national record holder, Sunny Jong, Apple Cheng Jia Xin and Md Mustafa Rahman, better known as @RoboCopKch, whose trademark finish-line dance videos have attracted more than half a million views on TikTok.

ROBOCOP: The popular runner known as Robocop during his dance at the finishing line. One of his similar clips from last year reached half a million views on TikTok.

HSL’s Ekiden Relay Race is modelled after the popular Japanese event format, which is usually held around the new year.

CHIP: Professional time keeping was provided by KL based Biib.

Unlike a normal individual road race, it is a relay in which runners complete separate legs one after another rather than all team members running the full distance.

LIVELY: The Ekiden style race really brought out the excitement among runners.

TUTU: Creative runner waiting in excitement to receive the sash to continue to relay.

OOMPH: A participant raring to go at the sash exchange zone of the HSL Ekiden Relay Race.

“For the first time ever, East Malaysia has an ekiden. It is so exciting for us. A totally new and unique experience. Thank you to everyone, from HSL for always supporting the running community, and to City Jogger’s Club (CJC), which always provides great technical support,” said Team Haolian leader Tan Jit Ping.

LEAD: Team Haolian’s leader Tan Jit Ping (third right) called the HSL Ekiden Relay Race a new and unique experience for all.

“The running community has been asking for an ekiden for quite some time, and finally we have it. It really was too much fun.”

CJC president Elisabeth Wong shared similar sentiments, noting the race recorded a full turnout.

WONG: CJC president Elizabeth Wong (second left) says it’s the first time she’s seen a racing event with 100% participation. “It’s clear HSL’s Ekiden has wide support.”

“It’s the first time we’ve seen a racing event with 100 per cent participation,” she said. “It’s clear HSL’s Ekiden has wide support.”

Winning teams took home RM3,000 in cash prizes, fully funded by HSL, a Sarawak-based construction firm.

ALL AGES: Winners comprised all ages, from as young as 12 years old.

WINNER: Trophies and cash for the fastest teams in both open and veteran categories.

“The atmosphere was great. Each time one runner had to pass the sash to the next, there was a surge of electricity. There was so much cheering. I was not prepared for the adrenaline rush,” said HSL marketing and communications head Abraham Tiong.

TIONG: Every runner was racing their heart outs at the highly competitive relay team race.

GOOOOO: Screams, cheers and taunts filled the air at the relay race.

“I was emceeing and the crowd response gave me goosebumps. It was easy to emcee. In a way, you could see there was a lot of pressure on the runners. They could not let their team down. At every finish, you could see they were running their hearts out.

“The transition zones, where the sashes were passed from one runner to another in front of the mall entrance, were so loud. There was so much cheering.”

HSL has been organising running events since its Fitness Weekend in 2021. In 2023, it held its first HSL Samarahan Marathon, which drew about 3,000 participants, with winners coming from as far as Singapore, Kenya, South Korea and Brunei.

HSL: The Sarawak construction specialist has been hosting running events since 2021 after La Promenade Mall opened.

“We base these events on the principle of leading the way to healthy living, which complements La Promenade's tagline, ‘Leading The Way To Luxury Living’. The company is glad to be a keen supporter of fitness.

CORPORATE: HSL employees were part of the day’s fun run.

“Up next is the 2026 HSL Samarahan Marathon, where we are anticipating another 3,000 runners across the 3km to 21km categories,” Tiong said.

The company subsidises the marathon by up to 30 per cent to keep prices affordable. Early-bird fees started from RM30 for the 3km category and RM90 for the half marathon.

To sign up, visit lapromenademall.com.my or search #Samarathon2026.