FRIDAY, 24 JANUARY – Nothing is impossible to a willing heart. That phrase probably fits the team of UMS athletes in their bid to break the record of ‘Malaysia Longest Distance Running On a Treadmill by a Group’ amidst health threats and injuries.

According to coordinator of the athletes and records, Stephanie Chok; the run entered its fifth day today and nine of the athletes continue to be in high spirits even though two of the athletes developed fever and another one had a knee injury on the second day of the feat.

Speaking when contacted by Chancellery media, she said even though the affected athletes had to endure their situation but they continued and reached to a time of 89 hours 44 minutes as at 10.25 am this morning.

“During the 46^th change, the athletes had reached a total of 738.4 kilometres. I believe they would be able to run for 264 hours as what we have targeted,” said the lecturer from the School of Education and Social Development (SPPS).

Touching on the athletes who developed fever during the feat, she explained that they were not used to running in an air-conditioned environment as they were accustomed to exercising under hot weather before.

However she said both athletes have improved on the forth day of the run and continued along with their peers.

“The athlete who suffered knee injuries was Zulkilinsius Lairi and was asked to rest. However his condition seemed to be better and would be expected to continue running again tomorrow or the day after,” she added.

The ‘Malaysia Longest Distance Running on a Treadmill by a Group’ Programme is another effort by a group of athletes consisting of UMS students to carve a name for the university in the Malaysia Book of Records.

This programme which is running on a treadmill is located directly in front of the main entrance of the 1Borneo hyper mall and had started last Monday and expected to end on 31 January 2014. – SS (FL)

 

MEDIA DIVISION
CHANCELLERY DEPARTMENT

THURSDAY, 23 JANUARY – Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) which is synonymous with its beautiful landscape was today visited by a group of 20 final year students of the Diploma in Information Management Programme (UiTM) Samarahan Campus, Sarawak.

WEDNESDAY, 22 JANUARY – Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation (IBTP) is now making the efforts to upgrade the centres in their institution in order to be as one of the show-place in UMS.

According to the Director, Prof. Dr. Charles S. Vairappan, a few plans have been addressed in order to improve and strengthen the existing IBTP functions.

He said, “IBTP intend to establish BORNEENSIS, a centre to collects Sabah flora and fauna specimens.”

He also added that BORNEENSIS will be the international reference centre which will collected all results from tropical life research.

He said while giving a briefing to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Datuk Dr. Mohd. Harun Abdullah, when he visits the centre.

The institute have been collaborating with agencies and corporate bodies both from local and international; among them Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Shimadzu and World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

TUESDAY, 21 JANUARY – Special Needs Student is the first runner of the UMS Longest Distance Running on a Treadmill Run by a Group will be recorded in the Malaysia Book of Record 2014.

Abner Moilie, second year student of Sports Science who suffered a visual impaired since birth, confident that they will be able to finish the challenged and renowned UMS name.

“I believed I will reach the target distance for this challenge since I’ve been training for a full month for this program. My parents and lecturers are also giving me full supports to finish this challenge,” he said during the challenge official ceremony.

His parents presents at the ceremony also fuelled his morale to end his 2 hours ran before his team take over.

Martian Guntalib, Abner’s mother said her husband, Moilie Lodunga and she was proud of Abner’s efforts to make the record.

According to her, Abner was always an active sports person since child even though he had a visual impaired.

“I am touched and almost cried when seeing Abner begin the run. We always are supporting him in sports activities including this program,” she said. -JA-

Media Division
Chancellory Department