Official timing partner captures victories for world-ranked elite and hundreds of athletes in the Asia-Oceanian Championship atop the world’s second-tallest building.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – September 3, 2025 – CheckPointSpot, a leading provider of precision race timing and technology, is proud to announce the successful execution of its role as the official timing partner for the historic inaugural The Sky Race – Merdeka 118. Held on Saturday, August 30, 2025, the event marked the first-ever race up the stunning 118 floors of Kuala Lumpur’s newest architectural icon, the Merdeka 118 tower.
The race doubled as the host for the prestigious Asia-Oceanian Tower Running Championship, raising the stakes and requiring absolute precision from the timing team to crown the official continental champions.
Conquering the Vertical Challenge: A Technical Feat
Timing a vertical race in the world’s second-tallest building presented unique obstacles not found in traditional road races. The CheckPointSpot technical team conducted extensive pre-event planning to overcome challenges such as satellite signal acquisition for the start line and ensuring robust RFID signal coverage across 2845 stairs and numerous concrete-and-steel floor plates.
The implemented solution featured a multi-point timing setup with strategically placed mats at critical split points and the finish line on the 118th floor. This system captured the journey of every athlete, from elite runners vying for the championship to charity climbers achieving a personal goal, ensuring each result was accurate and verifiable.
Crowning Continental Champions
The elite competition was highlighted by world-class performances. CheckPointSpot’s timing systems definitively captured the victory of Malaysian runner Soh Wai Ching, currently ranked 2nd in the world, who claimed the men’s Asia-Oceanian title with a stunning time of 00:15:37. In the women’s category, Yuko Tateishi of Japan was crowned champion with a winning time of 00:19:59.
Beyond the championship, CheckPointSpot’s timing infrastructure accurately recorded the results for hundreds of participants across all standard categories, including Men’s and Women’s Open, Junior, and Veteran divisions, ensuring every athlete’s achievement was recognized.
A Timer’s Pride: The Human Element Behind the Technology
At the heart of the operation was CheckPointSpot’s lead timing operative, Maxon Loke, who oversaw the timing command center.
“There’s immense pressure with an inaugural event of this scale, especially with a continental title on the line. There is no margin for error,” said Maxon Loke.
“Our months of preparation covered every detail—antenna placement, battery backups, signal integrity. To see a world-ranked athlete like Soh Wai Ching cross the line and know our system captured his time perfectly was the ultimate validation. Every participant trusted us to record their effort, and that trust drives everything we do.”
The flawless timing delivery enabled real-time leaderboards for organizers and live tracking for spectators, enhancing the excitement and experience of this landmark race.
Securing a Place in History
The Sky Race – Merdeka 118, bolstered by the Asia-Oceanian Championship, is now a permanent fixture on the global tower running calendar. CheckPointSpot’s precise timing services have officially and permanently recorded all results and category rankings for the inaugural race, ensuring the achievements of all athletes are part of the tower’s lasting legacy.
Official results for all categories can be viewed at https://results.checkpointspot.asia/results.aspx?CId=17036&RId=10613
