Japan’s Yuta Matsuyama repeated his 2019 victory at Ultra Trail Chiang Mai in Thailand last weekend and added 500 valuable ATM Championship points to his 2022 tally. Matsuyama was pushed nearly all the way by Singapore’s Deric Lau, who somehow was running even pace but could not come any closer than ten minutes. After a 5th place at Cameron Ultra last month, Lau now scored his first ATM race podium and certainly is one to watch in the upcoming races and potential leader for Team Singapore in the ATM Finals in December. Matsuyama finishing time was 13 hours. Third place went to Germany’s Olaf Stuermer, just ahead of Norway’s Eirik Knudsen in 14h46.. Malaysia’s Nancy Lem Chee Ng was fifth in a 105k points race where Thailand’s competitive home runners were remarkably absent. Not so in the women’s category, however, as Chonlada Kappiyanand scored her second ATM points race win of the 2022 season in 17h00’. She was clearly the strongest with a 3-hour gap to her compatriot Chanchaya Naphawanroed. Japan’s Maeno Yuuka took third on the podium.

A Thai woman also won the second and shorter 65k points race of the UTCM event. Sutinee Rasp was 25 minutes faster than Malaysia’s Halimatun Sa’adiah, who ended up on an ATM podium for the third time this season already. Sa’adiah is therefore also the new leader in the Malaysian ATM women’s ranking. Srinual Kanta from Thailand was third, just a minute behind Sa’adiah.

The men’s race was won in impressive style by Bangkok-based Indonesian Rama Astra Bramastana, nicknamed ‘Rambo’. A still young trail runner who has been steadily improving and who has used the covid crisis to become more competitive. He was 47 minutes faster on the 65k course than second-placed Hungarian Miklos Viczena and 1h25’ faster than third -placed Yuthakan Mana. Bramastana won in 8h02’ and is suddenly in the mix now for qualification in Team Indonesia for the ATM Finals.

Yuta Matsuyama repeats win at UT Chiang Mai