Nik Fakaruddin Ismail, 38, (left) and his wife, Noor Amelia Musa, 37, secured victory in the Penang Bridge International Marathon 2023 on December 17, 2023. Nik Fakaruddin triumphed in the Best Malaysian Full Marathon Men category, while Noor Amelia claimed the title in the Best Malaysian Full Marathon Women category. - Bernama

In a remarkable display of athleticism and teamwork, a married couple serving in the army and police clinched the top spots in the Penang Bridge International Marathon (PBIM) for the second time together, dominating the Malaysian men’s and women’s categories in this morning’s run.

Noor Amelia Musa, a 37-year-old police officer at the Kuala Lumpur Police Training Centre (Pulapol), claimed victory in the women's category with an impressive time of 3 hours 14 minutes 36 seconds over a challenging 42-kilometer course. Her husband, Nik Fakaruddin Ismail, a 38-year-old army personnel stationed at Camp 74 Workshop of the Sungai Besi Division, set a new record for the men's category, finishing the marathon in an astounding 2 hours 43 minutes 57.0 seconds.

The couple, now two-time PBIM champions, secured not only the honor of the titles but also cash prizes of RM10,000 each, accompanied by well-deserved trophies.

This marked Nik Fakaruddin's fifth victory at the PBIM, having previously dominated the event in four consecutive years from 2016 to 2019. His absence in the 2020 run was due to his commitment to the selection process for representing Malaysia in the men’s duathlon event at the SEA Games.

Expressing his joy and excitement, Nik Fakaruddin said, “To win as a couple is not an easy thing and rarely happens, so of course, I am very happy and excited. In the first 10 km, I had to run hard because I was challenged by some other runners who are really strong in this event, but my strategy was to make a move early to break away from the group and managed to be in a comfortable position after seven km and managed to maintain the momentum until the finish line.”

Noor Amelia, participating in PBIM since 2018, celebrated her third victory after securing top positions in 2019 and now in 2022. Despite a lack of optimal preparation time, with just two weeks since her last marathon in Langkawi, she expressed gratitude for the win, stating, “Two weeks ago, I had already run a marathon in Langkawi, so for this PBIM, I lacked preparation; however, I am grateful and happy that I still won.”

The Penang Bridge International Marathon 2023 drew an impressive participation of 20,000 runners from across Malaysia and 60 other countries. Penang Tourism and Creative Economy exco Wong Hon Wai commended the event for not only promoting a healthy and active lifestyle but also fostering community spirit across borders and uniting participants from diverse backgrounds.

In a spectacular showcase of determination, skill, and unity, the PBIM 2023 will be remembered as the stage where a power couple, both serving their country, triumphed once again, etching their names in the marathon's history books.