| James Kon |
DATO Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali bin Haji Apong, Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism; Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, and Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Bahrom bin Pengiran Haji Bahar, Deputy Minister of Education, joined over 2,000 others yesterday in the National Run 2017 to mark Brunei Darussalam’s 33rd National Day celebrations.
The run, flagged off at Dermaga Diraja in the heart of the capital and ended at the Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien, saw participants being split into three run categories: Male 5km Run, Female 5km Run, and 2km Fun Run.
The running route encompassed roads in the capital such as Jalan McArthur, Jalan Masjid Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien, Jalan Stoney, Jalan Dato Ibrahim, Jalan Sumbiling, Jalan Haji Basir and Jalan Kumbang Pasang.
This also serves to enliven Bandarku Ceria’s car-free Sunday as these roads are closed for the Sunday no-car activity.
Organised by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports in collaboration with the Brunei Darussalam Athletics Association, National Run 2017 aims to foster closer ties among the youths and the various stakeholders in the country as well as to promote a healthy lifestyle within the local community.
Prior to the start of the event, the two ministers and other senior officials joined the 2,000 runners in a warm-up session led by instructors Mohd Fakhri bin Haji Ismail – a sprinter who represented Brunei in the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics last year – and Maziah Mahusin – Brunei’s first female Olympian.
Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali bin Haji Apong, Minister of Primary Resourses and Tourism, and Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, ready to start the event
The Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports and Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Bahrom bin Pengiran Haji Bahar, Deputy Minister of Education joining the fun run
The Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports presenting the prize to Venessa Lobb, first place in the Female 5km Run
Participants of the National Run 2017 during the warm-up session yesterday
Photos above & below show runners set off from the starting line following the sounding of the horn. – PHOTOS: JAMES KON
This was followed by Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali sounding the horn for participants of the Male 5km Run, and Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi sounding off the Female 5km Run.
After this, both ministers proceeded to sound off the 2km Fun Run. The Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, and the Deputy Minister of Education also participated in the run.
For the Male 5km Run, Moroccan runner Ammouta Youmes was placed first with a finishing time of 20:43. Local favourite Sefli Ahar – a marathon runner – clocked in more than a minute behind Ammouta to take second place with a time of 21:57. Third place went to Mohammad Waiz Rusyadi bin Mohd Shahrun who completed the race in 22:40.
In the Female 5km Run, Venessa Lobb crossed the finish line in 27:25 to capture first place. Seconds behind was Jenny Muslim who claimed second place with a time of 27:52. Third place was bagged by Leong Sheo Yee who finished the race in 28:05.
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