Malaysian national triathlete and runner Esther Joy delivered a remarkable performance at the Nagoya City Marathon 2026 in Japan, breaking Malaysian women’s half marathon national record.
Historic run in Japan
She finished the 21.65KM race in 1:19:27, a time believed to have surpassed the existing national mark of 1:24:44 set ten years ago by Sheela Samivellu.
This new record cuts over five minutes off the long-standing national time, represents a great improvement in half marathon running.
Impressive pace and endurance
During the race, Esther maintained an average pace of 3 minutes 45 seconds per kilometre, delivering a strong consistency throughout the run.
Her race data also showed an average heart rate of 184 BPM, reflecting the intense but steady effort she put in throughout the race.
Rewrite the record after two years
Two years ago, Esther came close to rewriting the record after clocking 1:24:52, finishing just eight seconds behind the national benchmark.
This year, she returns to Japan to race the same course again. Her achievement has sparked excitement among athletics fans and the Malaysian sporting community, with many praising the athlete’s dedication and perseverance.
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