On any given marathon Sunday, the hardest job on the course doesn’t belong to the elite contenders breaking the tape at the front. It belongs to the human metronomes holding high-visibility markers, carrying the hopes, target splits, and personal bests of thousands of runners trailing behind them.

With the Kuala Lumpur Standard Chartered Marathon (KLSCM) 2026 rapidly approaching, organisers and official partner ASICS officially unveiled the 42-member Pacer Squad tasked with dictating the rhythm for Malaysia’s premier distance event at TRX City Park.

Pacing a World Athletics Elite Label Race is an exact science. Every runner selected for this year’s unit underwent a stringent assessment process to prove they could lock into dead-accurate splits under intense pressure across the 10KM, Half Marathon, and Full Marathon courses.

“Our KLSCM 2026 pacers have gone through a stringent pacer assessment process to qualify and be selected,” said Rainer Biemans, Director of Dirigo Events. “These motivated individuals plan to help as many runners as possible achieve their goals and finish the race successfully. They are ready to give their best to empower, encourage, and guide runners on race day.”

In a sport where distance running in Southeast Asia continues to hit unprecedented momentum, the pacers carry a crucial dual role: equal parts tactical clockwork and psychological engine. From sub-4-hour marathon hopefuls aiming for personal milestones to first-timers fighting the dreaded wall in the closing kilometres, having a steady, experienced guide at the front of the pack often makes the difference between a breakthrough finish and a mid-race collapse.

“The running culture in Malaysia has evolved prominently as more Malaysians embrace this sport as part of their lifestyle,” noted Boon Tib Soom Nik, Country Manager of ASICS Malaysia. “Selected to guide runners across different pace groups, these pacers bring experience, discipline, and a passion for running to the course.”

For the flagship 42-kilometre full marathon, the squad’s strategy spans from the fast-paced 3:45 group led by Tan Chee Choong all the way to the 7:15 sweeper team featuring Chan Huey Ci and Abu Soffian Azzahari. Crucial milestone groups include the high-demand 4:00 mark anchored by Poo Lai Kuen, Muhammad Nafis Afiq Bin Abdul Kahar, and Muhammad Shafik Bin Hamidon, alongside dedicated squads marshalling the 4:30, 5:00, 5:30, 6:00, and 6:30 target times.

The Half Marathon contingent features precise pacing units across 2:00, 2:30, and 3:00 finish windows, with veterans like Lionel Lee San Loong, Luqman Hakim Bin Kamal-Ludin, and Pang Kah Hoe helming the sub-two-hour train. Meanwhile, the 10KM division will deploy four distinct groups spanning 1:00 to 2:00 finish targets, giving shorter-distance runners clear reference points from the opening gun.

Outfitted in high-visibility gear designed to stand out in packed corridors, these 42 runners are officially staged and ready to lead thousands of athletes through the streets of Kuala Lumpur come race morning.

IHH 10KM Pacers

1:00 – Janice Loh Yinjin, Lee Sze Yong

1:15 – Mohd Faizarulazwan Bin Ayob, Yong Jian Wei

1:30 – Jesper Tohr Eng Siang, Wong Kin Sing

2:00 – Mohd Suhairi Bin Zamri

ASICS 21KM Half Marathon Pacers

2:00 – Lionel Lee San Loong, Luqman Hakim Bin Kamal-Ludin, Pang Kah Hoe

2:30 – Muhammad Arief Bin Ahmad Lutfi, Nurul Ashikin Binti Roslan, Roniy Nurdin

3:00 – Rainee Leong, Lee Da Chuan

42KM Full Marathon Pacers

3:45 – Tan Chee Choong

4:00 – Poo Lai Kuen, Muhammad Nafis Afiq Bin Abdul Kahar, Muhammad Shafik Bin Hamidon

4:30 – Koh Kean Giap, Muhammad Aliff Bin Mohamed Abdul Wahab, Tan Bee Yen

5:00 – Raja Arman Alif Bin Raja Azizan Shah, Hang Kok Chuan, Chong Xiang Yuan

5:30 – Lee Boon Siong, Mohd Fadhrullah Bin Mohd Sani, Yan Lai Fun

6:00 – Cecilia Lau Chung Ming, Nur Atikah Binti Murashid, Muhammad Zuhairi Bin Azizi

6:30 – See Chuan Ming, Saiful Azri Bin Abu Hasan Sazalli, Mohd Nizam Bin Jasmir

7:00 – Choo Wan Yee, Mas Aruwardy Onara Ismail

7:15 – Chan Huey Ci, Abu Soffian Azzahari