RANAU, Oct 18 — Italian runner Alex Oberbacher, 32, conquered Mount Kinabalu to emerge as the men’s elite champion at the 33rd Mount Kinabalu International Climbathon today, completing the gruelling 24.5-kilometre race in three hours, 20 minutes and 54 seconds.
Oberbacher edged fellow Italian Daniel Antonioli, who finished second in 3:23:46, while Japan’s Shoma Otagiri was third in 3:29:54.
In the women’s elite category, Spain’s June Villaroel, 25, claimed the title in 4:09:14, ahead of Russia’s Svetlana Nurmukhametova (4:18:45) and Belgium’s Vanja Cnops (4:42:19).
Russia’s Evegenii Markov emerged victorious in the men’s veteran category, clocking 3:29:11, followed by compatriot Ivan Vlasenko (3:51:02), while Malaysia’s Daved Simpat finished third in 3:52:21.
