World No. 11 tower runner Muhammad Hazim Zuhairi showcased his elite endurance and technical versatility by winning the 12km category at the Bukit Lagong Challenge 2026. Clocking an official time of 1:19:54, Hazim secured the overall championship in a performance that saw him outpace seasoned trail specialists to claim the top spot on the podium.

Speaking after his victory, Hazim admitted that while he had targeted a strong performance, the championship win was an unexpected result. “My target was actually just to get a podium finish, maybe second or third place, because I didn’t expect to get the champion title today,” he shared. He had initially set a goal to finish within 1 hour and 10 minutes, but the rugged nature of the Bukit Lagong trails proved to be a significant variable. Hazim noted that his recent training had been heavily skewed towards his primary discipline and road racing, leaving him with less preparation for the technicality of the forest. “Lately, I’ve been focusing mostly on road and tower running, so I haven’t had much training on the trails.”

The race reached its psychological and tactical climax at the summit. Reaching the peak first, Hazim realised he was leading the field, but the presence of a high-calibre international rival added immediate pressure to his lead. “The most memorable part of the race for me was when I was at the peak; I knew I was leading and that I was the first to reach the top. But then I saw my old friend from Japan, Hiroyuki Kawachi. He is a very fast trail runner from Japan, so that put quite a bit of pressure on me as I started the descent,” Hazim explained.

@officialtoughasia Pelari Menara No. 11 Dunia, @verticallyhazim rangkul juara 12km di Bukit Lagong Challenge 2026! 🏆🇲🇾 Dengan catatan masa rasmi 1:19:54, beliau berjaya memintas pelari Jepun, Hiroyuki Kawachi sewaktu turun bukit (downhill) untuk mengesahkan kemenangan. Aksi ‘crossover’ yang padu untuk perlumbaan terakhir beliau sebelum Ramadan! 🔥 #BukitLagongChallenge2026 #HazimZuhairi #TowerRunner #TrailRunningMalaysia #RunningMalaysia #ToughASIA #SukanTikTok #Lari #fyp #pelarikonten ♬ original sound – ToughASIA

In the high-stakes descent back down Bukit Lagong, Hazim expected the Japanese specialist to close the gap. However, the tower runner found a superior rhythm on the downhill sections, effectively neutralising the threat. “I expected him to be tagging me on the way down, but actually, I was faster than him during the downhill section,” he noted. The victory was finalised with a strong finish, marking his final competitive outing before the start of the month of Ramadan. “The most memorable moment was definitely crossing the finish line and seeing my official timing.”

With the Bukit Lagong title secured, Hazim is already looking towards his next objective: the Gunung Ledang Climbathlon. Despite his current momentum, he remains analytical about the challenges ahead. “I will be a first-timer at Gunung Ledang, so I don’t know what the track or the conditions will be like yet. But I will do my best, and I hope I can perform well and hopefully become champion there too,” he concluded. The win at Bukit Lagong serves as a definitive proof-of-concept for the tower specialist as he continues to expand his footprint across Malaysia’s most demanding endurance disciplines.