By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The most striking feature of Shillong’s first half marathon, organised by Meghalaya Tourism Development Forum (MTDF), was the city’s enthusiasm. The event, which also included other races such as an open cycling competition, green run and walkathon, pulled in a crowd of over 2,000, with participants belonging to all age groups, even a five-year-old Ryan Jeffrey Lyngdoh, who cycled 13.1 miles and was the youngest to take part.
Participants queued up for the races at Madan Iewrynghep as early as 6:30 am.
A total of 700 participants covered 13.1-mile half marathon route from Laitumkhrah, Khyndailad, 4th Furlong, Demseiniong, NEIGHRIHMS, Mawpat, Langkyrding, Lumshyiap, Golf Links, Mawroh, Lumjingshai and Polo parking lot.
Samananda Meitei from Assam Regimental Centre, Jamsing Star Ramsiej from Mawkyrwat and Dinesh Lal from Uttarkhand, came first, second and third in the men’s category.
Two sisters came first and third in the women’s event – Kyntimon Marwein Datei Bankynmaw Marwein respectively – while Anjela Sancley from SAI came second.
The winners took away Rs 20,000, while lesser amounts were given to the other runners up to 10th place.
The Open Cycling competition saw 120 participants and prizes, in the form of bicycles, were awarded to Mountain Bike and BMX categories, which also covered the same route as the half marathon.
Gary Umdor from Laitumkhrah finished first in the mountain bike event and he was followed by Jayanta and Gogoi respectively, who came from Nowgong to participate in the event.
The BMX champion was Bravery Warjri, followed by Lamphrang Nongneng and Bankerlang.
Stacey Shallam was the best of the women’s cyclists.
The walkathon, in which even CM Mukul Sangma participated, saw a total of 500 contestants, and the Green Run saw 700.
Kynpham Swer, Nimtshering Lepcha and Amster John Syiemiong were first, second and third in the boy’s walk, which was for a distance of five miles.
Bandasharai Marwein, Kyntihun Syiemlieh and Darimon Jyrwa were the top three in the girls category.
The winners took home Rs 5,000. Prizes were also given to the top three in the Under-12 category – Edward Sungoh, Kynphamlang Lyngdoh Mawlieh and Andrew Syiemsad.
The day also saw a best poster and costume competition to reflect the environmental theme of the event.
Rilbong PNC Secondary School won for its depiction of environmental degradation. The National Cadet Corp came out with the largest contingent of 200 boys and girls.
Mawkyrwat sisters steal the show
Arguably the day belonged to the three Marwein sisters from Mawkyrwat.
As mentioned, Kyntimon (20) bagged first place in the grueling women’s half marathon, with Datei Bankynmaw (18) coming third. Their younger sister Bandasharai, who is only 16, took first place among the girls in the Green Run.
Born into a poor family of nine siblings, the trio had won several other titles all throughout the year in the state even as they have gone largely unrecognised.
What set them apart from the rest of the runners was the fact that they have no professional trainers, no proper gear to train with and lacking basic support from the local government.
Right when they were attending kindergarten, they walked one hour daily to their school and back. Their daily routine has changed now though as they were in a college at the district headquarters.
However, to compensate for the loss, the trio jog in the morning.
“We get up very early everyday and we begin our day by jogging. This has become our habit and everybody else is joining us nowadays,” Kyntimon said.
The sisters usually run for five kilometres everyday but in the past one month, the trio did a 15-km long run daily to prepare for the challenge on Saturday.
They also said that Bining Lyngkhoi, also from West Khasi Hills, is their hero. (with inputs from PTI)