At the Nairobi Cross Country Championships in 2003, he finished fourth on the heels of Ben Kimondiu and just before experienced racer Samuel Kimaiyo.
But due to financial complications, he took out a loan with high interest to pay for the journey to a race he felt certain he could win.
With his lack of sleep and a rising temperature on the North Shore, Malakwen nearly dropped out and ran for a lackluster 32nd place.
Ngetich visited him in the medical facility and left a gift of a lime-green singlet and a pair of shorts.
He was staying with a host family for several months though, and as he became involved with a Two Harbors Covenant Church, members sought to help him with the financial impasse.
In Kenya though, the 2007–2008 Kenyan crisis prompted by post-election political unrest threw parts the nation into chaos and violence.
Malakwen worked hard to leave for the United States again, arriving back in Minnesota by spring 2008.
And local news outlets marked that Malakwen was wearing Ngetich's running clothes in honor of his deceased friend.
But as the spring melted heavy snowfalls, the Red River of the North rose to high levels and flooded areas of the route, which included both Fargo and Moorhead, Minnesota.
In mid-60 degree weather, Belainesh Gebre ran a woman's course record and Malakwen beat almost 7,000 runners to win in the sixth-fastest time ever.
Facing other elite runners such as Jeffrey Eggleston, Matt Gabrielson, Christopher Kipyego, and Teklu Deneke, Malakwen paced the lead pack in the cooler morning.
[29] The top placing and fast time prepped him well for the 30th annual October Twin Cities Marathon held between Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota.
[30][31][32] After the success, he flew to Lebanon for the IAAF Bronze-Labeled BLOM Beirut Marathon where he lined up with thousands in an international crowd.
As the breeze blew in off the Zaituna Bay, he sprinted from the start and locked into 5-minute miles around the coast of the Mediterranean Sea and along the Beirut River.
After ditching Solomon Molla and James Rotich, Malakwen kept on the heels of Ethiopian Tariku Jufar as they turned to the finish near the Martyr's Square in Downtown Beirut.
In the state's biggest race, the Miami Marathon, Malakwen ran in the heat from the party atmosphere around the start at American Airlines Arena through South Beach, down Coconut Grove and across the large bridges stretched across the bay to Bayfront Park.
In April 2016, he was named a favorite at the 2016 River Bank Run in Grand Rapids, Michigan along with Jared Ward, Christo Landry and Fernando Cabado.
The race director said that the lead pack of Kenyans and Ethiopians seemed to be running together as they approached Rock Island, but when they emerged from Arsenal Island (which is an active military base and does not allow spectators), Malakwen, Stanley Boen and Werkuneh Seyoum Aboye came out minutes ahead of the others.