More than 500 domestic and international runners compete in BNI Plataran X Trail 2018, through genuine trail run with a mixture of forest paths, beach, hill slopes, and rainforest single trail on Saturday, October 6th 2018. The annual event held at Plataran Menjangan Resort and Spa, which is located within West Bali National Park area.
The highlight of the event is the 70 km run, which is also part of 2018 Asian Trail Master Championship Series. The competition started at 4.35 am as Nyoman Sutrisna, Buleleng Regency’s Head of Tourism Department, and Drh. Agus Ngurah Krisna, M.Si as the Head of West Bali National Park, raise the checkered flag.
Japanese runner Tomohiro Mizukoshi arrived first at the finish line with 7 hours 58 minutes and 47 seconds record time while his fellow Japanese, Hisashi Kitamura, placed third at 8 hours 20 minutes and 38 seconds. Meanwhile, Salva Rambla Bravo (Spanish) clocked in at 8 hours 4 minutes and 47 seconds and takes the silver medal.
Tomohiro Mizukoshi’s win brings him one step closer to overtake the Asia Trail Master 2018 Championship points leader Alessandro Sherpa, Malaysia-based Italian runner, which claimed 6th place in this race. In the interview with Balithisweek, Alessandro Sherpa revealed that he did not performed well because of the injuries he sustained in running events in Thailand (February 2018) and Italy (September 2018), but satisfied enough with the result.
“To be honest, I’m happy with my performance because I tried my best, and there were no big ascend (in the track) so I can still run although it’s very painful”, he said. However, the flat run in West Bali National Park is also in contrast to his expertise as mountain-trail runner, while at the same time, provide advantages for his Japanese rivals because they are road marathon athletes.
The second flag raised at 6:30 am for 30 km race, led by Yosua Makez, CEO of Plataran Indonesia, and the guest of honor Abdullah Azwar Anas, Regent of Banyuwangi, East Java. Unlike the 70 km race, the 30 km race divided into male and female groups. Niko Sila from Indonesia tops the male group winner’s podium by finishing in 3 hours and 19 seconds, while Eileen Korir from Singapore takes the gold in female group with 3 hours 33 minutes and 29 seconds record time.
The last race, 7.2 km Fun Run started at 9 am. It is held to commemorate the 72th anniversary of BNI as the main sponsor of the whole event. The race concludes with Samgar Kamiasi and Derksema Alicia won the first place in male group and female group respectively.
BNI Plataran X Trail 2018 also showcases musical and cultural performances, including traditional dance performance which attracts the attention of foreign race participants. Inline with its commitment to preserve the nature and its inhabitant, Plataran Menjangan also held tree and coral reef planting, also releasing the endangered Balinese Starling to the wild from West Bali National Park’s Starling Sanctuary.
The annual BNI Plataran X Trail itself was organized by Plataran Indonesia as the host and BNI as the main sponsor, with support from West Bali National Park and Asia Trail Master. Various media partners from Bali and national media are invited to cover the event, including Balithisweek.
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