It was meant to be her husband’s big day — but instead, it was Wong Mei Yan who stole the show in spectacular fashion at the Langkawi International Ultra Run 2025, becoming the fastest overall finisher in the prestigious 100km Round Island Ultra-Road.

The 32-year-old from Hong Kong, better known for her marathon and trail-running exploits, clocked a blistering 10 hours, 29 minutes and 38 seconds, not only topping the women’s field but also outrunning all male contenders — including Malaysia’s Muhammad Sazuiam Zakaria (10:52:42) and Steven Ong (10:54:00).

What made her triumph all the more remarkable? It was her first-ever road ultra — and she was only in Langkawi because her husband wanted to attempt the 100km distance.

“He was the one who found this race online and said we should try it together,” laughed Mei Yan. “But guess what — he gave up at 35km! He DNF-ed! I finished — he quit!”

Despite her endurance background, Mei Yan had zero expectations of winning.

“I usually run marathons or trail ultras, which are slower because of the elevation. I just told myself to keep moving — except for some of the slopes — and I’m really surprised I finished first overall.”

Running through the night posed its own challenge. Mei Yan ditched her headlamp due to discomfort and instead carried it by hand for the entire run.

“It gives me headaches if I wear it, so I held it the whole way. Now my legs and arms are sore!”

Exhausted but elated, Mei Yan called Langkawi “beautiful” and said she and her husband would return — but next time, just for vacation.

“The views are amazing. The ocean, the mountains — so peaceful. I didn’t expect it to be this beautiful,” said Mei Yan. “And the people here are really nice too — it just made the whole experience even more special.”

“We love joining races overseas — especially half marathons, because we still have energy afterwards to go sightseeing and explore,” she added with a laugh. “This one… was a lot tougher!”

Another standout performance came from local ultra specialist Ku Seng Lip, who emerged as the fastest finisher in the newly introduced 100km dual-format ultra — a punishing combination of 50km trail followed immediately by 50km road.

Seng Lip completed the gruelling course in 14:53:59, ahead of compatriots Wong Wai Seng (17:22:56) and Lee Yi Siang (17:33:15), in what was described as Malaysia’s first-ever hybrid trail-road ultra.

While Seng Lip is no stranger to trail ultras, the road segment pushed him out of his comfort zone.

“My strength is in trails — not tarmac. Even after 11km, I was already tired and had to pace myself to recover,” he said. “I actually don’t like road ultras, but this one looked interesting — so I signed up anyway.”

Though he fell short of his target on the trail section, Seng Lip was satisfied with his overall result.

“I was aiming for seven hours but finished in eight and a half. Still, it’s a great challenge and I think this is one format that should continue. As an ultra-runner, the tougher it is, the more we want to test ourselves.”

Organised by Lumen Sports and supported by the Langkawi Development Authority (LADA), the Langkawi International Ultra Run 2025 drew over 1,000 participants from 26 countries, making it the largest edition to date.

LADA Chief Executive Officer Dato’ Haslina Abdul Hamid hailed the event as a reflection of Langkawi’s growing appeal as a sports tourism destination.

“Events like these embody the Naturally Langkawi vision — blending our island’s natural charm with globally appealing experiences,” she said. “Langkawi’s UNESCO Global Geopark status is something we are proud to share with the world, and platforms like the Langkawi International Ultra Run offer the perfect opportunity to do so.”

Race director Jeff Ooi was equally proud of the event’s evolution. “This year’s new formats gave runners a fresh experience and also brought in strong tourism interest. We want Langkawi to be more than a race destination — it should be a full adventure,” he said.

Jeff also revealed that the event will evolve next year, with Langkawi International Ultra Run focusing entirely on road categories (100km, 50km, 21km, 10km, and 5km), while a brand-new event, Skytrail Langkawi, will take over the trail formats — including a planned 175km round-island ultra covering Langkawi’s most iconic peaks and forests.

“We want to take both experiences to the next level. Whether it’s trail or road, Langkawi will continue to be a true hub for endurance racing,” he added.

With emotional victories, bold new race formats, and Langkawi’s stunning natural backdrop, the Langkawi International Ultra Run 2025 has raised the bar once again — and offered a glimpse into an even bolder future.