New Corella Trail Ultra is a new Filipino entry on the Asia Trail Master Championship calendar of Season 11. The third edition of the event is scheduled for 20/21 December and will therefore be the last points race or championship qualifier before the Christmas and New Year’s break. Focus is exclusively on the 70km category for both ATM Championship points and Grandmaster Quest points.

New Corella Trail Ultra is the second event organised by the AWRA Davao Team, located in Davao del Norte. Their other event, Bislig Ultra Trail, features on our Grandmaster Quest calendar one week after the Season 10 Championship Final. Both events went through the Candidate Race label process last year.

New Corella does not have mindblowing elevation gain numbers with approx 2800 hm for 70km, but numbers can be misleading. Last year’s race proved the trail course is much tougher than one expects at first sight. Views and scenery along the way are sublime, so you will get rewarded for your efforts.

Participants will traverse diverse terrain, from rolling hills and dense forests to river crossings and rugged mountain trails. The course has a number of distinct highlights. Bundok Cave is a remarkable 200-foot-long cave that runners will traverse. The Panas Waterfalls and the Casilak Waterfalls are two breathaking natural falls. Then there is Balaang Bukid, a prominent landmark with significant local cultural and spiritual relevance. Furthermore, runners will also pass by neighbouring municipalities that will show the beauty of Nabunturen and Mawab.

One of the race's highlights is the passage through the famous Bundok Cave, a stunning 200-foot-long natural formation, as well as scenic spots like the breathtaking Panas Falls. The race route also extends to neighboring municipalities, showcasing the natural beauty of Nabunturan and Mawab. Beyond the competition, the NCTR50 promotes environmental awareness, supports the local tourism industry of Davao del Norte, and highlights the rich culture of New Corella.

A new talent from Bukidnon won the men’s race a year ago: Vincent Philip Sinanggote . The 24-year-old had the better of another promising runner, Eldy Bulod. Sinanggote finished the 50km in a time of 7h11 , which was almost half an hour quicker than Bulod. In fact, Bulod had to hurry up in the end as Angelo Navarro concluded his race just 30 seconds after him. The women’s 50k Candidate Race was won by Guia Heistaire Angela, who finished quite a way ahead of Janet Arnego and Carmhelle Pilos, who completed the podium.

We are happy to announce that the popular Race To Lake Holon in South Cotabato, Philippines, has obtained the ATM Candidate Race label for its next edition on 6/7 December 2025. Presented by the Barangay Salacafe Council, in partnership with Tribu Pakaras & Tboli Multisports and supported by Municipal Government of Tboli, Department of Tourism- Socckskargen Office, Tboli Tourism Development and Promotion Unit, Race to Lake Holon features a 50km main race category, which in the past two years saw two of Philippines’ biggest names Arnie Macaneras and Angelie Cabalo taking top honours. Less ambitious runners can also choose between the 21km, 12km and 7km.

The 50km race also has 3000 metres of elevation gain, which is not nothing. The cut-off time is 16 hours, which essentially means Sunday, at 4:00 pm in the afternoon as the start is foreseen for midnight at Salacafe Gym.

One of the key figures behind the organisation is Grandmaster Florencio Alave.

Race To Lake Holon can be accessed via the General Santos Airport via domestic flights from Manila or Cebu. Davao’s international airport is a bit further away, but another option.

Arnie Macaneras and Angelie Cabalo have been back-to-back winners of the main race

For the second year in a row , trail runners looking to score Grandmaster points can draw a red line around SC 70 into their diaries. One of the annual events in the ever growing trail hub Santa Cruz in Davao del Sur, SC 70 takes place this year on the weekend of 22/23 November. On the menu, just like last year, is a 70km main race - exactly the required GM distance. ‘Challenge your limits’ is the event’s tag line.

Less ambitious runners can also take part in the shorter 32km and 16km categories. The event venue is the L' Circulio Sea Blue Garden Resort, Brgy. Talisay, Coronon in Santa Cruz. SC 70 is organised by Team Jegol.

Registration is open and can be done HERE: https://forms.gle/VrMqQ6vxenXSvse16

The 2024 course map of SC 70

We are happy to announce that the Merapoh Rainforest Trail enters the 2026 Grandmaster Quest calendar on the weekend of 1 to 3 May. Under a new event management since the end of covid, Merapoh Rainforest Trail is the successor of TMMT, which was part of ATM from 2016-2019 already. We are indeed delighted our series returns to Merapoh for what has always been a true adventurous ‘jungle’ trail run. 2026 will already be the 5th edition of Merapoh Rainforest Trail, which enjoyed 1600 participants this year.

Merapoh is a small town located in the Lipis district of Pahang, known as "The Caving Paradise." There are approximately 200 caves around Merapoh, rich in historical value and unique features. Additionally, Merapoh serves as one of the gateways to Taman Negara Pahang. Taman Negara Pahang is part of Malaysia's largest national park, covering an area of 2,477 km², and is a renowned eco-tourism destination in the country. The main attractions in Taman Negara Pahang include its geological and biological features, particularly its tropical rainforest that is over 130 million years old.

The event has always had a major community angle. Organising such running events not only promises an increase in local tourism but also benefits the local economy. Persatuan Pencinta Alam Semulajadi Merapoh and MT Tahan Ventures, as the organizers, hope that this event will continue to promote Merapoh as an eco-tourism destination and provide economic benefits to the local community of Merapoh and the Lipis district. This event is fully supported by the Lipis District Council, Pahang State Forestry Department

The event features several distance categories of 10km, 30KM, 55KM, 100KM and 100 Miles. Of these, the 100km and 100 Miles offer a point for runners’ Grandmaster Quest challenge.

Merapoh has several homestay options for runners, which can be checked via the website linked below. Gua Musang is a slightly larger town nearby. International runners can fly into KLIA or also Penang, and take a bus from there.

Registration is already open via checkpointspot Asia - see link below. Note that registrations will close already at the end of March 2026.

It was the first ever ATM race win for Indonesia’s Akhmad Nizar in Ijen Mountain Marathon in Banyuwangi, East Java, last weekend. He completed the 50km course in 6h32'. After several podium places and places of honour, Nizar finally got that victory. His biggest opponent was the newcomer from Flores island, who goes by the name of Ino. Akhmad Nizar already scored an 8th place in the ATM Championship Final in 2023. He is again qualified now for next month's 2025 Final in Vietnam. Ino took second place not too far behind, and in third we had Japan's Nuobo Mori.

Also in the women’s 50km race, we had a first-time race winner. Bali's experienced trail runner Dian Pradina led the 50km race across Ijen volcano more or less from start to finish. In second place we found Zoe Wong from Singapore, with Fauziah taking third on the podium. Endang Suryani did not finish the race, citing it was much tougher than she had expected. Dian Pradina has now also officially qualified for team Indonesia in the ATM Championship Final in Vietnam next month . Fauziah, who previously scored a second place in Dieng Trail Run at the very beginning of Season 10, also got herself qualified.

Ijen mountain Marathon was the last qualifier or points race in Season 10. The Championship Final will be held next month in Vietnam, at Mu Cang Chai Ultra Trail on 4 october.

Season 11 will start on 18 October with Luang Prabang Ultra Trail in Laos.

This weekend’s Ijen Mountain Marathon in Banyuwangi, East Java, Indonesia closes the qualifying period for the 2025 Championship Final that will be held in exactly one month from now at Mu Cang Chai in Vietnam. It’s the first time Ijen Mountain Marathon, part of the Ijen Green Trail Festival, offers a points race in our series. It’s not a new event by any means, “IGT” was already on the domestic calendar before the corona crisis. The eastern part of East Java remains not so easy to get to, but runners are always rewarded with the most outstanding volcanic scenery there. In fact, ATM has a long history at Ijen with the previous event around the volcano - held on the other side out of Bondowoso - a member of ATM from 2015 to 2019.

The 50km Ijen Mountain Marathon will be an important one for a few runners as they still attempt to qualify for their country’s team in the Championship Final. Indonesia’s Akhmad Nizar and Bali-based Thimo Kilberth no longer need to worry about that, however. They have already scored enough points during the season. Nizar goes into Saturday’s race as the top favourite on paper. Could he finally get that first ATM race victory after so many podiums already? Furqoni is another podium candidate, as well as Indonesia-based Egyptian Ahmed Bedair, who may get himself into Team Asia Expat for the Final.

In the women’s race, we have Bali’s Dian Pradina and East Java’s winner of Dieng Trail Run at the very beginning of Season 10, Suryani Sipayung Endang, as well as the number 2 in that race Fauziah.

As always and particularly in Indonesia, we are likely to see some new names popping up on the leaderboards this Satuday as well.

ATM will be reporting from the Ijen Mountain Marathon in Banyuwangi all day on Saturday on our usual channels.

The 13th edition of Borneo TMBT Ultra once again delivered some amazing trail running performances from a variety of runners. Hisashi Kitamura and Rejlen James scored their 11th and 10th career wins in ATM - which was especially sweet for the Japanese ‘Karate Kit’ after four consecutive second places in this event! On the 50km for women, we saw another Japanese runner, Akane Nemoto, grab her second ATM race win of the season, while the men’s race witnessed an outstanding achievement by young Filipino Godwin Mirar, who increasingly looks like ‘the real deal’ with a finish time of 5h18 - nine minutes faster than his idol John Ray Onifa two years ago!

Kitamura defeated the two home stars from Sabah, Milton Amat and Daved Simpat to finish in 13h37 for what is in practice a 109km long course. It was the second race win of the ATM season for the Karate Kit after Shiga Kogen 100 in Nagano in July, and the 11th ATM race win in total. In the morning, Kitamura still had to let Milton Amat go ahead by a few minutes, but by WS 5 he closed the gap and then started to apply pressure himself. Amat did not really relent, however, and by WS 11 he narrowed the gap down again by a few minutes. The 2019 scenario must have gone through Kitamura's head. Back then, he was also leading Amat into that cruel final section of 10km that goes consistently uphill to the finish line. At the time, Amat caught and overtook him. But not last Saturday. In fact, Kitamura still had the strength to increase the gap from 16 minutes to 28 minutes! He really wanted this victory, and now he can look ahead to the ATM Championship Final next month in Vietnam... to tick that other box: finally winning the ATM Championship.

Milton Amat settled for second place in 14h05. Not a bad time for him, actually, yet Kitamura was outstanding. Third on the podium was Willy Wilson, also from Sabah. A great effort by him, resulting in his first ATM podium. Daved SImpat had to be content with 4th place, ahead of Haziq Asyraf and Humberto Baeza. Jasni Bin Gandi took seventh and Vitus Daimi eighth. An important eighth for Vitus, as he just scores enough points to get into the Malaysian Top 5 in the ATM points ranking, which makes him qualified for the ATM Championship Final!

In the women’s 100km, it was indeed already the 10th ATM race victory for local Sabah star Rejlen James! She won TMBT 100 for the second time after 2023, leading from start to finish in a time of 20h55. Already certain of qualification for Team Malaysia in the upcoming ATM Championship Final, Rejlen James proved once more she is the benchmark in her country. With 10 victories, she also ties with her compatriot Tahira Najmunisaa in the all-time victory standings, one less than Indonesia's Ruth Theresia. Behind her back, the women's race actually had some major twists during the night. Dazeree Joannes looked set for second place for a long time, but then dropped out of the race at the last aid station with serious cramps! Adelinah Lintanga then looked like a certain number two, but she suddenly got caught and overtaken by India's long ultra specialist Ashwini Bhat. In fact, Ashwini even still came to within 38 minutes of Rejlen James! A textbook run by the Malnad Ultra ambassador, who was not even in the top ten at halfway distance. Her first ATM race podium, even though she herself claims to be aiming more to complete her Grandmaster Quest. Adelinah Lintanga grabbed third place at the end, yet another podium for her in an ATM race. And, Adelinah is qualified for Team Malaysia next month as well! Australia's Sarah Webb scored a nice fourth place. Pf Goh finished the race in fifth place. Then it was Joyce Yong Hie Ying and Philippines' Avegail Depanay. Cecille Wael had a break of more than four hours after halfway due to severe stomach cramps, but nevertheless finished the race later in 10th place, which was enough to get her inside the top five of the Filipino ATM points ranking.

Godwin Mirar from Bukidnon in Mindanao was the star of the 50km, as we mentioned above with a remarkable finishing time of 05:18:27! A new course record for Godwin Mirar, who led nearly the whole race despite getting attacked and bitten by a dog! Ever since Penang Sky Race last April, Godwin Mirar looks to have come of age and it would be a mistake not to count him among the top favourites for the ATM Championship title on 4 October, alongside Kitamura, defending champion Jeff Campbell and his two compatriots and former champions John Ray Onifa and Arnie Macaneras. Last Saturday, Mirar preceeded the surprisingly fast local newcomer Sheron Sariman (5h34) and Nepal's Arjun Rai Kulung (5h46). Sariman finished ahead of none other than Wilsen Singgin and Oswald Maikol. Already a new Sabahan star in the making? For Arjun Raui Kulung , it. was also an important result as he jumps into the Top 5 of the Nepal ATM ranking with today's 425 points and is therefore qualified again for the team in the upcoming Championship Final at Mu Cang Chai Ultra Trail in Vietnam on 4 October. Singgin took fourth in 5h57 and Oswald Maikol fifth in 6h05. Singapore's Scott Pugh was an great sixth today, having overtaken Vietnam's Nguyen Phuong Hieu - winner of Gombak 100 - at the end. All of them also secured their sports for their country's team in the upcoming ATM Final. The same holds for Brunei's Shamsuleffandy Haji Sulaiman who finished in 8th place - great effort by him!

Akane Nemoto scored her 2nd ATM race win of the season and is qualified again for Team Japan next month at the Championship Final at Mu Cang Chai in Vietnam! Akane controlled the race throughout, but had to watch her rearview mirror nevertheless as France's Amale Omari stayed within 15 minutes of her. Her finish time was 8h05. The now Tokyo-based runner was a Top 10 Podium Finisher in the last two ATM Championship Finals. With two victories this season, she could even aspire more.

For Omari it was the first ATM race appearance. On the podium she was joined by SIngapore-based Filipino LJ Benitez, who took third place. Earlier this season, she was second in UTSG 50 as well. She can now join Team Singapore in the ATM Final next month, as she has stayed in the country for over ten years already. In fourth place came Korea's Hyunsung Chung. Satriana Sahirin and Xie Zhongyi took places five and six. Laslin Sarawi scored her best race result in quite a while with 7th place, just ahead of Nurul Emyra Fazira Isnariah Absi, who managet to score 20 points extra today and in so doing leapt ahead of Yvette Chong Mi Chin in the ATM points ranking. Yvette herself finished in 12th place today, scoring no points anymore.

Despite the fantastic performances by many runners, the 50km race concluded with a great deal of confusion and an anti-climax following TMBT’s meanwhile renowned post-race gear check. A practice, also performed by a few other organisers - especially in Malaysia - that is a known recipe for unnecessary controversy. Godwin Mirar and Arjun Rai Kulung were among those who received a 30-minute time penalty, which effectively relegated them both from rank 1 to 2 , and from rank 3 to 5. While the case of Arjun is hard to refute (not carrying minimum amount of water/liquids), Godwin Mirar’s is food for debate and his penalty seems harsh to the point of cruel. His infringement concerned the mandatory first-aid kit (plasters, anti-septic, gauze etc) that runners should carry. Only, he used it during the race following the aforementioned dog bite (for which he was also sent to hospital after the race). As it goes with plasters in tropical climates, they come off very quickly when running. So he had none to show at the finish. The runner, his entourage and many fans could not hide their confusion and disappointment , also because he was initially cleared by the staff at the gear check (it is not known why it was later still decided to give him a penalty). The case is a textbook example why Asia Trail Master has always recommended race organisers to perform gear checks before and during the race, but never after the finish line to avoid an anti-climax like this. The purpose of mandatory gear is not to carry a bunch of items from A to B, but to have them when needed and when urgent in the interest of one’s safety.

At last: Hisashi Kitamura wins TMBT 100 in his fifth attempt!

For the first time at TMBT, Milton Amat had to concede to Hisashi Kitamura

10th ATM race win for Rejlen James: she is now tied with Tahira Najmunisaa in the all-time victory ranking

India’s Ashwini Bhat underlined her long ultra credentials with a great last third of the race to take 2nd place

Adelinah Lintanga takes another podium at TMBT 100

This weekend, trail runners on the Grandmaster Quest can also score a point at the Marilog Ultra event in Mindanao, Philippines. The 70km race was a Candidate Race last year and features on the Grandmaster calendar for the first time . Organised by Team Brad and directed by 2-star Grandmaster and former ATM Finalist Julieann Morales, Marilog Ultra takes place in a district west of Davao City and southeast of Bukidnon.

The 70km has an estimated elevation gain of 3600 hm. The toughest part is the mid-section , as can be seen from the elevation profile , and the trail to the finish line also goes uphill. Last year, the 70km race was won by Roberto Cain III in the men’s and Shekinah Velasquez in the women’s. Among the favourites for this weekend’s edition we have Jomarc Ferrer, ATM Finalist, 3-star Grandmaster Sean Aying, Punisher 2024 co-winner Eldy Bulod and Allan Gadong. The women’s race seems to have less outspoken favourites, but the name of Julie Mae Marquez always sticks out in Mindanao. Lots of Grandmasters on the start list as well, runners aiming to get that extra GM point on the way to their next level on the Quest.

ATM will be reporting from Marilog Ultra thanks to our contributors Christine and Brian.

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.