By: Shuhada Elis and Ili Liyana Mokhtar

KUALA LUMPUR - The Standard Chartered KL Marathon 2009 was given the royal touch yesterday when the children of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin took part in the event.

Tengku Nadhirah Zahrah, 12, took part in the 3km Kids Dash, while Tengku Muhammad Mua'az, 8, and Tengku Fatimatuz Zahra', 7, ran the 950m Kids Dash.

Tuanku Mizan and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Nur Zahirah arrived before 9am to support their children.

The royal couple energetically applauded during the flagging off by Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, the wife of the prime minister.

Attracting more than 12,500 participants, the top three places in the men's marathon was a clean sweep by Kenyans.
First-placed Julius Ndiritu Karinga, could not believe he had won as this was his first attempt at a full marathon.

"I'm surprised that I beat other top marathon runners. I'm glad that all my hard work paid off," he said.

His countrymen, Nelson Kirwa Rotich and Armon Kipchirchir Kemei, took second and third places.

Top national women's long-distance runner and walker Yuan Yufang clinched first place in the women's race.

"I love participating in marathons as I feel we can learn a lot from the established foreign athletes," she said.

Present were Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen and Federal Territories Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin.

The race, organised by Octagon (Asia), was endorsed by the Youth and Sports Ministry and sponsored by Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia Bhd. It started and finished at Dataran Merdeka.

--NST