One year after hosting the exciting 2024 ATM Championship Final, Borneo TMBT Ultra again features one of the best and most competitive participant fields of the season for its 13th edition already. It proves that TMBT has really claimed its stake in Southeast Asia’s trail world and can genuinely be called a classic event, of which there are not so many in our region. For elite runners, TMBT is a race anyone wants to win at least once. For all the others, it is a race everyone wants to experience at least once. This weekend’s event features the usual 100km and 50km race categories that matter for ATM Championship points, and as the penultimate ‘qualifier’ of Season 10, it will be make-or-break for many trail runners who wish to be part of their country’s team in the ATM Championship race at Mu Cang Chai Ultra Trail in Vietnam on 4 October.

Both the 100K and the 50K this year are packed with runners who can aspire a prestigious race victory this Saturday. Focusing on the longer distance, Japan’s Hisashi Kitamura returns once more to try and finally win it after four consecutive second places! In 2019 and 2022, local hero Milton Amat had the better of him, and in 2023 it was good old Daved Simpat in a race when Kitamura - who had just moved back to Tokyo - was arguably not at his best. Many will remember last year’s ATM Championship Final, however. Jeff Campbell was fading significantly in the last 10km to the finish - which are mainly uphill -, and Kitamura nearly caught him only to finish second again. The Karate Kit is confident this season he is again in peak form, which he indeed showed in the Japanese double header Deep Japan Ultra and Shiga Kogen 100 nearly two months ago. However, this weekend he is up against Milton Amat and Daved Simpat again! So come what may, he will not get that elusive TMBT race win presented on a silver plate. In fact, Milton Amat needs the 500 ATM points for a victory if he still wants to have a small chance of getting himself qualified for Team Malaysia in the ATM Final. Milton only ran 2 ATM races so far this season, and of course it’s each runner’s best four race results that count for the points ranking. Brief, Milton is at the mercy of other Malaysians such as Vitus Daimi, Oswald Maikol, Kok Lam Yong and Assrul Aminur - all of whom are going to bank four solid results this season. And SImpat, he has never made the ATM Championship an objective, but another TMBT victory will certainly look good on his record. Besides, Milton Amat and Daved Simpat can win TMBT for a record 4th time. Kitamura, Amat and Simpat are the logical favourites to occupy the podium spots, but there’s a bunch of other runners who may throw a spanner in the works or pick up the spoils if one of the three melts down during the race. Singapore-based Humberto Baeza, for example, but also Sabah-based Australian Andrew Farmers, Moo Sat, Bernardo Linus, Haziq Asyraf and more.

In the women’s 100km , local hero Rejlen James will aim to score her 10th ATM race win. Already a TMBT winner in the past, James was - unfortunately - not at her best during the ATM Championship Final last year - and may wish to erase that memory with a solid victory this weekend. Her main competitors are not so different than in last month’s KAR Ultra. The difference is that Adelinah Lintanga, Cecille Wael, Avegail Depanay, Jamilah Durat and Dazeree Joaness have motivation to push. Besides James, basically no Malaysian woman is already certain of qualification for the team in the ATM Final next month. It’s a tight battle between many, and they’re almost all at TMBT this weekend. In addition, there’s more solid competitors such as India’s Ashwini Bhat, Vietnam’s Chau Pham, Lynda Marylyn and Pf Goh.

On the 50km, we are bound to witness a spectacular battle for victory between overall points leader in the ATM Championship ranking this season, Godwin Mirar from Philippines, local hero Wilsen Singgin - in the best shape of his life this year -, two motivated Nepali runners Arjun Rai Kulung and Lokendra Rai, and the dark horse from Vietnam: Nguyen Phuong Hieu, winner of Trail des Gombak end of June! Have we already mentioned Chris Timms, Maynard Encormal, Scott Pugh and Oswald Maikol ? Any one of those runners better be fresh and awake come sunrise on Saturday, because we can expect a serious race and pace. The question is of course, who will blow himself up and who will be able to control himself until it’s ‘money time’ ? Race tactics will be important. A lot at stake also for several of these runners: Arjun, Lokendra, Hieu, Oswald… all of them need a good result to assure themselves of qualification for their country’s team in the ATM Final. In other words, a DNF or a non-points finish is not recommended. Lokendra Rai and Arjun Rai Kulung were also there last year as part of Team Nepal. Both were in the front group with John Ray Onifa and others, but then made a crucial marking misjudgement that threw them outside the top ten. Arjun still recovered later to finish tenth in the race. For Godwin it’s his second ATM race in Malaysia. He was outstanding in winning Penang Sky Race last April, ahead of Wilsen Singgin. Since then, Singgin managed to defeat Milton Amat in KAR Ultra 50 last month. That had not yet happened too often and it was the second time this year.

The women’s 50km will also be great to follow. Philippines’ BUTM race winner Aggy Sabanal is on the start list for her second ATM race of the season after spending several months in the US. LJ Benitez, also Filipino but based in SIngapore, was a great second in UTSG 50 last June and can get herself qualfiied for Team Singapore if she does well this weekend. She has lived in Singapore for over ten years. From Japan, we have Gombak winner Akane Nemoto , who also aims to get herself into Team Japan for next month. There’s Korea’s Hyunsung Chun, Yvette Chong Mi Chun and Nurul Emyra Binti Absi.

ATM will as usual be reporting live from Borneo TMBT Ultra via our usual channels on facebook, instagram and youtube.

Borneo TMBT Ultra - Race Winners Main Distance categories

ATM Championship Final : 80 KM

2024: Jeff Campbell (HKG) and Priya Rai (NPL)

100 KM
2024: Oswald Maikol (MAS) and Laetitia Renaux (FRA)
2023: Daved Simpat (MAS) and Rejlen James (MAS)
2022: Milton Amat (MAS) and Siet Fah Lim (MAS)
2019: Milton Amat (MAS) and Wen Danyu (CHN)
2018: Daved Simpat (MAS) and Corinne Williams (USA)
2017: Milton Amat (MAS) and Eszter Csillag (HUN)
2016: Phairat Varasin (THA) and Christine Loh (MAS)
2015: Daved Simpat (MAS) and Joanna Kruk (AUS)
2014: Safrey Sumping (MAS) and Jasmine Goh (SGP)
2013: Vlad Ixel (AUS) and Olya Korzh (RUS)
2012: Jimmy Tee (MAS) and Katherine Plichta (USA)
2011: Jiri Vystein (CZE) and Katja Fink (SUI)

50 KM

2024: Daved Simpat (MAS) and Denise Ping Le (HKG)
2023: John Ray Onifa (PHI) and Vanja Cnops (BEL)
2022: Pierre-Victor Morales (FRA) and Vanja Cnops (BEL)
2019: Kim Jisub (KOR) and Lauren Woodwiss (GBR)
2018: Daniel Perez Fernandez (ESP) and Jess Lintanga (MAS)
2017: Petr Novotny (CZE) and Chris Yee Ting Kwan (HKG)
2016: Jahirin Ginsos (MAS) and Nathalie Darbon (FRA)
2015: Safrie Sumping (MAS) and Meagan Douglas (CAN)
2014: Etienne Rodriguez (FRA) and Meagan Douglas (CAN)
2013: Safrey Sumping (MAS) and Chang Zhi Zhen (TPE)
2012: Nigel Thomson (NZL) and Shiri Leventhal (USA)
2011: Jimmy Tee Chin Li (MAS) and Judy Leslie (GBR)

Overall Points Leader in Season 10: Godwin Mirar

For two years in a row , Arjun Rai Kulung was strongest in MTR 100 Miles

Lokendra Rai: finisher in the ATM Final last year.

Wilsen Singgin: home star in the best form of his life this season

Hisashi Kitamura: fifth attempt to win Borneo TMBT 100

Rejlen James: overall female points leader in Season 10 and going for ATM race win number 10!

Akane Nemoto: looking for another ATM win and qualification for the Championship Final

Adelinah Lintanga: one of several Malaysian women trying to secure her spot for the team in the Finals

From the makers of Trail des Gombak now also comes Trail des Lenggeng. Projek Hijo in Malaysia announces the second edition of ‘TDL’, as the event is known in short, for the weekend of 29/30 November and it has obtained the ATM Candidate Race label. The event takes place in Dusunnas Farmstay & Campsite, Ulu Beranang in Lenggeng, Negeri Sembilan. That’s the state roughly between Kuala Lumpur and Malacca.

On the race programme we find a 50km main category, with also a 30km and 15km for the less ambitious. There’s 1800 metres of elevation gain on the 50km long route and the start is scheduled at 3 am on 30 November. The shorter distances will commence at sunrise, 7 am. Main highlights on the route include the 140 years old SAK Dato Temple (Malaysia’s largest statue of Monkey King), Bukit Gondol Berup (Trig Station), and Kg Orang Asli Chelogeh

Projek Hijo aims to develop Trail des Lenggeng into a a premier event on the Malaysian and Asia Trail Master trail calendars. Foreseen is a 70km Grandmaster Quest distance in 2026 as well. . Ulu Beranang and Lenggeng have natural beauty and cultural richness to attract plenty a trail runner. Lenggeng also aims to position itself as a sustainable eco-sport tourism destination and support environmental conservation, cultural heritage and rural economic development.

Registration for Trail des Lenggeng is already open via Checkpointspot. All details can be found on the website of Projek Hijo and you can stay up to date via the event’s facebook page.

We have the utmost pleasure to announce our 6th Golden Grandmaster today, and the second runner from Malaysia to accomplish this outstanding feat. Kenneth Mun Keat Yow earned his 4th Grandmaster Star at the Trails des Gombak on home soil in Selangor, close to Kuala Lumpur at the end of June. That’s 20 ATM ultra race finishes for the runner, originally from Ipoh in Perak, but now residing in Kajang, Selangor.

Kenneth had quite a methodological approach to his Grandmaster Quest, basically scoring a star every year since the end of the covid crisis. The first already came in 2022 and Kenneth continued to collect GM points to reach the Bronze level of 2 stars at the end of 2023 (the ATM Championship Final event in Indonesia). Barely eight months later, he was already at Silver level following Akha Trail in Thailand. For the final five ultra races, he required just ten months. And he did not make it easy for himself. Look at his chosen list of ultras: Prenn Trail Summit 103km in Dalat (Vietnam), the 9 Dragons 50/50 in Hong Kong, the Manjushree Trail Race 160km (= 100 Miles), BTR Bali 110km in Indonesia and finally - in his home state - Trail des Gombak 100. A highly deserved 4th star in other words!

Kenneth Mun Keat Yow follows Munin Sundram as the second Malaysian Golden Grandmaster. He is the sixth overall, after Hisashi Kitamura, Masafumi Yamamoto, Rhea Batac, Tomohiro Mizukoshi and the aforementioned Munin Sundram.

GRANDMASTER RECORD KENNETH MUN KEAT YOW

• MMTF 100km (MAS)

• BUTM 100km (MAS)

• Cameron Ultra 100km (MAS)

• UTOP 100km (MAS)

• Borneo TMBT Ultra 100km (MAS)

• The Borneo Miler 160km (MAS)

• Penang Eco 100km (MAS)

• Mantra 116km (INA)

• Lam Dong Trail 75km (VIE)

• Siksorogo Lawu Ultra 80km (INA)

• Lantau 70km (HKG)

• Cuc Phuong Jungle Paths 70km (VIE)

• Silabur 100km (MAS)

• KAR 110km (MAS)

• Akha Trail 80km (THA)

• Prenn Trail Summit 103km (VIE)

• The 9 Dragons 50/50 (HKG)

• The Manjushree Trail Race 160km (NPL)

• BTR Ultra 110km (INA)

• Trail des Gombak 100km (MAS)

The Magnificent Baling 100, also known as TMB 100, featured on our Grandmaster Quest calendar for the first time last weekend, which resulted in many Malaysians taking the opportunity to add another GM point to their tallies. TMB 100 is essentially the follow-up to TMMT, the Magnificent Merapoh Trail that was part of our series for five years 2015-2019. It is organised by Ten Senses, which also manages several road running events in the Putrajaya area, such as the Twin City Marathon. Ten Senses has a significant corporate responsibility angle and helps local communities in more remote areas to set up sustainable sporting events. After TMMT, TMB100 is their second major trail running project. Given the legacy, it was no wonder to see a large field of runners at the event, including some of Malaysia’s finest - even coming all the way from Sabah.

The men’s 100km race actually had a highly remarkable conclusion, which could even gain in significance in years to come. Sabah’s Wilsen Singgin grabbed victory ahead of his mentor Milton Amat in a splendid time of 10h35! That’s the second time this season he accomplishes this after BUTM 50km back in February. Are we seeing a changing of the guard in purely competitive context? Singgin had an advantage of 16 minutes at the finish line. In any case, he once again illustrated that he is in the best shape of his life this ATM season. It’s now been almost two years since he began to take more rest time between races and do more 50k than long ultras. This change in approach clearly works for Wilsin Singgin, who is one of the very few runners who has qualified now four years in a row for the ATM Championship Final. Milton’s finishing time of 10h51 of course shows he still has great pace himself. Will he take revenge in 10 days when he is again up against Hisashi Kitamura at Borneo TMBT Ultra ? In third place in Baling was Yih Huan Sua in 11h15, ahead of Indonesia’s former Mantra 116 winner Ma’Mun Khariri in 11h52.

The women’s race saw Ritzy Amor on top, which may not have been unexpected and yet. Multisport athlete Amor has been struggling with an injury over the past month that prevented her from training long distance. She was surprised to win a 100km race last weekend. Ritzy Amor, based in KL but originally from Philippines, has been a certain qualifier for the ATM Final in Vietnam on 4 October already quite a long time. Her victory in 15h33, ahead of Malaysia’s Syarifah Hamzah and Indonesia’s Septiana Nia Swastika, in any case proves that she is increasingly comfortable competing in trail running. One of those newbie runners who could spring a surprise in the ATM Final, especially if the going gets tough due to weather or what not.

Check out the TMB 100 facebook page below and see more videos and photos from the event.

Godwin Mirar grabbed his third ATM race victory of the season and a guaranteed ticket for Team Pilipinas in the upcoming ATM Championship Final at last weekend’s 11th edition of The Punisher. The 25-year-old young talent from Bukidnon ran away impressively from everyone else to finish the 80km in a time of 8h 36 minutes. Mirar needed this win to eliminate his unfortunate DNF at Lam Dong Trail in the early part of the ATM season last November. With 1950 ATM points, including the abroad bonus, he is even the overall points leader as well, having scored 25 points more than reigning ATM Champion Jeff Campbell and Chris Timms. It perfectly illustrates the step forward he has made this year and Godwin Mirar will be among the top favourites at Mu Cang Chai Ultra Trail on 4 October!

Behind him, Marjunes Abugan, Brigz Zamora and Sean Aying had a great competition for the remaining steps on the podium. Abugan made it into a career-best second place, which puts him in sixth place in the Filipino ATM ranking. That means first reserve. Zamora took third in the race in a nice debut for him. Aying was fourth and upped his points total by another 70 points, good enough for seventh in the ranking and second reserve.

The women’s race was expected to be more open and in the end developed into a battle between Kimberly Flores and Metzi Joy Alson. The 28-year-old Flores had the upper hand and scored her first ever ATM race win in 13h 18 minutes. Flores is close to qualification for Team Pilipinas, but may need another result in the remaning two qualifiers, or points races, of the season at Borneo TMBT or Ijen Mountain Marathon. Metzi Joy Alson on the other hand is now fourth in the points ranking after a consistent performance level this season. Second place in The Punisher was her first ATM podium. Third place was for Kriz Bondad, also for her a trail career first podium in ATM. She managed to stay ahead of Hong Kong’s Rachel Chan in fourth place, who neverthless secured her third consecutive qualification for her country’s team in the ATM Championship Final.

Six years after it all started for the then just 19-year-old, Godwin Mirar returns to The Punisher this weekend as part of a renewed ambition to qualify for this season’s ATM Championship Final. Indeed, we are entering the final three qualifying points races of Season 10 with the big day at Mu Cang Chai in Vietnam just under two months away from today. The Punisher on Babak Samal already celebrates its 11th edition and while it has always stayed loyal to its ‘grassroots’ nature it’s become a great race to have on your record as a trail runner, whether as a competitor or a Grandmaster Quest point seeker. The 80km points race has a new start and finish venue, so the course has also undergone some changes. The island, just off the coast of Davao City in Mindanao, features a great mixture of runable and technical trails.

Godwin Mirar actually already ran this race twice. After his amazing 4th place as a 19-year-old in 2019 behind Hisashi Kitamura, Arnie Macaneras and then-ATM Champion John Ellis, Mirar finished 3rd on the podium in 2022 behind Kitamura and Macaneras again. Now in 2025, he is unmistakenly the runner to beat this Saturday. It’s been almost four months since his fantastic race win in the Penang Sky Race and with The Punisher he continues his ATM season in a last-minute attempt to qualify for Team Pilipinas in the ATM Championship Final early October. Mirar is also scheduled to run the 50km at Borneo TMBT in two weeks.

His main competitors this weekend are expected to be Sean Aying and Marjones Abugan, both also keen to keep or earn a spot on the team for the Championship Final. Aying is currently fifth in the points ranking, just ahead of Mirar. Abugan has more work to do to still try to get in, but has been in excellent form recently. There’s more international runners with the same ambitions, and trail runners with ambition often can cause surprises. Singapore’s Ko Ing Hui and Japan’s Eiji Tagami, for example.

The female race has less outspoken candidates for race victory. Youngsters like Kimberly Flores, Metzi Joy Alson and Julie Mae Marquez are all in with a good shot. Rachel Chan from Hong Kong needs a good result to get herself qualified for her country’s team again, and might be a serious challenger for the local aces. Over the past two years, Rachel has often proven to be competitive when she wants, e..g 7th in the ATM Final 2023 and 2nd in Silabur 100 in Sarawak last year. Her compatriot Ellen Cheng is also on the start list, a 2-star Grandmaster and winner of the very technical V Trail 85 this year. From Sabah, we also have Vianah Ng Chen Sia.

ATM will be reporting live from The Punisher 80km on Saturday, as always subject to connectivity.

Kik Suello and Eldy Bulod, last year’s co-winners at the Punisher

Ko Ing Hui will try to run himself again into Team Singapore for the ATM Final

Already a 2-time finalist, Rachel Chan needs a good Punisher to qualify for the 3rd year in a row

The race when it all started for Godwin Mirar: The Punisher in 2019 (he came 4th behind Kitamura, Macaneras and John Ellis

The 2026 edition of The 9 Dragons in Hong Kong has been scheduled for 28 February and 1 March. A bit later than usual due to Chinese New Year taking place mid-february. The traditional menu remains, however. The 50/50 stage race is the flagship race category, 50 miles on Saturday and 50km on Sunday. Runners can score ATM Championship points for the 50/50, and also for the 50km single race - as has been the case for some years already. If you are on the Grandmaster Quest, you can also consider doing the single 50 Miles. Less ambitious runner can also choose a shorter distance (25km) in 2026.

One of the more unique events on our calendar, the 9 Dragons has indeed become cult. Running another 50km after a gruelling 50 miles (approx 84km) the day before is a challenge for even the greatest trail athletes. Many have cracked on Sunday, while others seem to thrive. A stage race is not the same as a single day race. Yet, while one of the toughest races on the ATM calendar, it’s also one with a superb vibe among the participants.

The 50 miles and 50km race courses will be confirmed in due course, but are unlikely to change much. Registration is already open and you might also wish to take a look at the accommodation offer at the Regal Riverside Hotel in Sha Tin, not too far from Saturday’s finish line (yes, keep in mind the 9 Dragons runs from A to B and then to C). It all happens in the New Territories of Hong Kong.

This season, 2023 ATM Champion John Ray Onifa left his comfort zone to win the 50/50 stage race, proving once more what a great all-rounder he has become. In the women’s competion it was Japan’s Kanako Edamoto who was strongest ahead of Hong Kog’s own long ultra trail star Man Yee Cheung. The 50km points race was won by the exciting HK newcomer Wai Hei Ng, with Singapore-based Aurore Dacier from France taking top honours in the women’s 50km.

Kanako Edamato was the strongest female runner last year on the 50/50

John Ray Onifa proved that he can also dominate a stage race

Following last weekend's KAR Ultra in Malaysia, the ATM Championship Points Ranking has been updated. You can check the full ranking on ATM Web with all details, how runners scored their points in each event. Important: the 50-point Abroad Bonus has now been applied and is included in the runners' totals. So, this is how we go into the last 3 points race events of Season 10, before the big Final at Mu Cang Chai Ultra Trail in Vietnam on 4 October.

Quite a few runners are guaranteed of their spots in the teams already, and may already be contacted by our ATM crew in early August. The final qualifiers in each country team will be known after the Ijen Mountain Marathon in Banyuwangi, East Java, Indonesia on 6 September.

COMING UP IN SEASON 10:

• 16/08: The Punisher (Philippines) : 80km

• 30/08: Borneo TMBT Ultra (Malaysia): 100km/50km

• 06/09: Ijen Mountain Marathon (Indonesia): 50km

• Final: Mu Cang Chai Ultra Trail (Vietnam): 75km

To find out details about Mu Cang Chai Ultra Trail and the ATM Final, please consult the dedicated page on ATM Web. Qualified runners will be expected to arrive in Hanoi on Thursday, 2 October, in order to take the shuttle bus to Mu Cang Chai on Friday morning.

Another hot edition of KAR Ultra in Sabah saw established protagonists Milton Amat, Dening Lo and Rejlen James take top honours, in addition to relative newcomer Azmil Bin Saripuddin. The latter trail runner from Sandakan in East Sabah won the men’s 110km race in convincing style - which given previous results came rather unexpectedly. Bin Saripuddin nicely tagged along with last-minute registrant and local hero Daved Simpat in the first half of the race. When Simpat pulled out with a thigh injury, Bin Saripuddin had no issue retaining his pace for the remainder, even though the equally surprising Filipino Rod Axel Butac and experienced Malaysian Syahrul Neyzam Sukasdi kept the pressure on some 15 to 30 minutes behind the leader. Last year’s winner Gustin Tiam continues to be hampered by injury and played no role at the front this year. Tiam would finish 8th .Behind the Top 3 it was Jainuddin Sainuddin, who may have secured his spot in Team Malaysia for the ATM Championship Final with this latest effort. Sainuddin crossed the line together with Haziq Asyraf, a finalist last year.

The women’s long ultra again saw Rejlen James a competitive class above the others. James has proven to be nearly unbeatable on home soil in Sabah, even though she has been struggling when traveling abroad. This was her 9th ATM race win ever, lest we forget! Philippines’ Cecille Wael, who had beaten her in Sierra Madre Trail last April, did not feature at the front in KAR. Wael lost a lot of time early on by a marshalling misjudgement and eventually had to settle for 11th place - which may jeopardise her chances to qualify for the ATM Championship Final this year. James is a guaranteed qualifier again for Malaysia, but the other spots in the team remain quite hotly contested and may only be decided come Borneo TMBT next month. Sarawak’s Grandmaster Celeste Teo ran a great 100k race - basically by herself nearly the whole way - and finished second last weekend. Adelinah Lintanga looked like a certain third place podium placer, but faded in the final 20km of the race. Jenny Jamilah Durat and Yee Ling Chai both still overtook her. Important 3rd place for Durat , in particular. She is one of several in the running for a spot in the championship final team. Behind Lintanga in fifth, it was youngster Shamiera Auther - who completed her debut on the long ultra.

The 60km medium distance for men saw a rejuvenated Milton Amat back on top. Amat had had a quiet season with only a 3rd place in BUTM 50 and this victory at least still gives him a slim possibility for qualification. He is also scheduled to run TMBT next month, but it’s a best-of-four points system and three races may just not be enough to finish the season in his country’s top five. At KAR 60, he kept Sabah’s new name Oswald Maikol behind by 17 minutes. Canada’s Francis Boutin came next, just five minutes later. Boutin reportedly will be around in SE Asia for two years, so we may get to see more of him. Wilsen Singgin was fourth - not what he had hoped for, but diarrhoea in the days before the race had weakened him. However, Singgin is certain of his spot in Team Malaysia already. It’s also his fourth consecutive qualification. Not many can say that. Hong Kong-based Mark Iandoli ran a great race and arrived at the finish in fifth place, boosting his chances for Asia Expat in the Final as well.

The women’s 60km went to Singapore’s Dening Lo as expected. Still, it remains a remarkable feat given Dening Lo did and won the tough high mountain ultra Mantra 68 just two weeks ago. Job done, too. with two race wins in the bag this season, Dening Lo should be safe to be part of Team Singapore in Vietnam on 4 October. Canada’s Elisabeth Petit, Lolita Lintanga and the surprising Sofia Raidin had a great competition for the remaining podium places. In the end, Raidin grabbed second and Lintanga third.

Malaysians still have another final chance to score ATM Championship points at home: Borneo TMBT Ultra takes place on 30/31 August.

Syahrul Neyzam Sukasdi took a great third place on the 110km

A new 3rd place in an ATM points race for Lolita Lintanga

Jenny Jamilah Durat keeps her ATM Final chances to alive with 3rd on the 110km

For the second year in succession, KAR Ultra offers 110km and 60km race options for Asia Trail Master Championship points. ‘Kadamaian’ was a great newcomer on our calendar last year and managed to create its own identity next to Sabah’s classic Borneo TMBT Ultra, which takes place again next month. The start lists promise some very interesting competitions. Local stars Wilsen Singgin, Milton Amat and Oswald Maikol are squaring off against each other on the 60km, and in the women’s 110km we have another dual between Rejlen James and Philippines’ Cecille Wael, who won Sierra Madre Trail this season ahead of Sabah’s female long ultra star. But: we also have the debut of youngster Shamiera Auther on the 110km.

KAR Ultra certainly also attracts big numbers for its two flagship categories. The 110km will have over 250 starters, for example. Perhaps the women’s 110 attracts more attention due to the aforementioned runners, but also in the men’s we have former winner Gustin Tiam returning. Tiam has had a difficult season, plagued with injury, but he knows the KAR trails like the back of his hand. Haziq Asyraf had a bit of a competitive breakthrough in this race last year and may be trying to score his first ever race win under ATM. More podium contenders in the women’s 110km are the inevitable Adelinah Lintanga, Celeste Teo and also the newcomer on the ATM scene Nurul Emyra Fazira Isnariah Binti Absi, currently ranked third in the Malaysian ATM ranking and almost for sure a qualifier for the ATM Championship Final.

The 60km will see the Sabahan stars Singgin, Amat and Maikol, but there’s others who could feature. Vitus Daimi, for example, and also Hong Kong-based Mark Iandoli. For the Malaysians competing for the five spots in Team Malaysia for the ATM Championship Final coming up in Vietnam, it's an important race. In fact, Milton Amat better aims to win both KAR 60 and TMBT next month to retain at least a chance for qualification. Milton has had a quiet season with only 1 third place result (BUTM) so far. In contrast, Wilsen Singgin can assure himself of his fourth consecutive qualification this weekend.

The women’s 60km sees Dening Lo trying to score her second victory in one month after Mantra 68. She is the logical favourite also, but will need to keep an eye out on Lolita Lintanga, Joannes Dazeree, Singapore-based Miki Ueki and perhaps Lynda Marylyn.

ATM will be reporting live from KAR Ultra all day on Saturday.

Shamiera Auther, winner of the 60k last year. Now she makes her debut on the 110k

Oswald Maikol: coming man in Sabah

Wilsen Singgin: winner last year and in even better form this season. Up against Milton Amat on the 60k

Singapore’s Dening Lo has just won Mantra 68 once again. Another top result puts her in the ATM Final

Sabah’s Rejlen James: winner last year, can she repeat and avenge her loss against Ces Wael in SM 75

Cecille Wael took a great victory over Rejlen James and others in Sierra Madre 75 this season

We are happy to announce that this year’s 12th edition of Izu Trail Journey in Japan is scheduled for Sunday, 14 December and is now open for registration. One of the country’s most iconic and most competitive trail races has been a member of our Asia Trail Master calendar since 2017 and always ranks among the very best events of the season. The Izu Peninsula is not far south from Tokyo , and race pack collection site Mishima is connected to the capital via shinkansen bullet train.

The stunning course of the Izu Trail Journey, often referred to as "ITJ", takes runners from the edge of the ocean up and across the mountains of the peninsula. It’s an A to B course mainly following an old pilgrimage trail of 70km, which means it’s also a Grandmaster distance. The expansive vistas of the Pacific Ocean below and the HUGE views of the majestic snow-topped Mt. Fuji you'll encounter while running along the Nishina Pass are awesome and will absolutely blow you away!

While the competition is tough, the cut-off time of 14 hours for the 70km is doable provided you keep moving and can also handle cold weather, which often characterises Izu. Snow is not excluded. The second part of the course is more technical and has more elevation difficulties than the initial runable 30km. Last year, victory went to Hokkaido’s Koken Ogasawara and China’s Xiang Fuzhao.

Registration goes via the official website linked below. Sign up soon, as this one fills up! A great end-of-year trip, Izu Trail Journey remains highly recommended for everyone keen on trying out a race in Japan.

Expected winners at MUSPO 100 this year. Roberto Cain III and Shally Yuson had to fend off a solid challenge by others, but nevertheless prevailed in the penultimate Filipino points race of Season 10, propelling both of them to the top of the Filipino ATM ranking and a certain qualification for the Championship Final in Vietnam on 4 October.

Already a race winner at BTR Ultra in Bali this season, Roberto Cain III was running nearly the entire race, which started at midnight, side by side with co-favourite Jevie Cagatin. Behind the duo, Marjones Abugan, Sean Aying and the surprising Cabalona Ace were battling it out for the third step on the podium. It was only towards the end that Cain III reached out to victory, also aided by the fact that Cagatin began to suffer from stomach issues. Cagatin even briefly dropped behind Marjones Abugan, who was running his best and most competitive race of the season. While Cain III marched on to victory, Cagatin persevered in the last hillclimb to overtake Abugan again for second place and important points to ensure qualification for Team Pilipinas. Abugan was third, Sean Aying a very solid fourth and Cabalona Ace fifth. Gerald Paday was sixth.

Shally Yuson and Kimberly Flores also looked equally matched for a while, until Yuson began to apply her experience in competing. She went on to her third ATM race win of the season - which does underline the improvement in performance and the consistency we have seen this year. Flores finished second some 20 minutes later - a great result for the podium placer in Point Trail last month. Unfortunately, some confusion at a checkpoint earlier in the race resulted in a time penalty for Flores, which brought her down to sixth place in the official result. Emelyn Cabingas therefore claimed second place, a strong performance by her, just ahead of Roflyne Fangayen.

Roberto Cain III celebrates his second ATM race win after BTR Ultra in Bali two months ago

Jevie Cagatin is edging closer to his top form again. Another podium in the bag.

Marjones Abugan was a very competitive third in MUSPO 100

the men’s podium

Shally Yuson has become the benchmark in women’s trail racing in Mindanao

Kimberly Flores: a great run, not too far behind Yuson, but a missed checkpoint meant penalty time

Emelyn Cabingas scored a great podium