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Drums pounded, women danced, and a cheer resonated with voices full of pride: "Malaysia Boleh! Malaysia Boleh!" as Team Sabah 2000 climbed up onto the podium this morning in an astounding 6th place. "Malaysia Boleh" means, "Malaysia can!" And Malaysia most certainly did.
This team of four Eco-Challenge rookies sailed, paddled, swam, mountain biked, trekked and navigated the 500-kilometer course in 7 days, beating many Eco-Challenge veterans to the podium stand.
Everyone is impressed, even Race Director Mark Burnett. "A 6th place finish in this race," he said, "against the highest quality field ever assembled in an expedition race, means that Team Sabah 2000 is a world quality team that can compete with the best in the sport."
The four - Cowboy Miala (48), Kona Liau (28), Guianus Salagan (33), and Ahmadul Tahir (30) - all have addresses in Kota Kinabalu. But as Liau was quick to point out before the race, the forest is their hometown. "We're not worried about the leeches or the jungle," she said. The sky is our compass if we can see the sun or the moon or the stars."
Liau grew up hunting in the forest with her jungle, and is now married to teammate Salagan.
Although they've never raced an Eco-Challenge before, these competitors are not new to endurance events. Liau and Salagan both raced in the 1999 Southern Traverse, and last year's Elf Authentic Adventure in the Philippines, where they earn a solid 4th place and the respect of other teams. All four members have a long list of triathlons, mountain bike races, and foot races on their resumes.
But there's something about an Eco-Challenge podium stand that brings out the smiles from within. Tears and pride fill the eyes of Team Sabah 2000 and of the crowd and fans they've drawn.
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