The second edition of the picturesque Matanao Mountain Marathon in Mindanao, Philippines, is the final chance for Filipino runners to score ATM Championship and Grandmaster points within their own country this season. Places for Team Pilipinas are hard-fought, and several of the ten regular spots, such as Arnie Macaneras, John Ray Onifa and Roan Biguasen, are already secure. Matanao Mountain Marathon - MMM - will shake up the rankings nonetheless with many of the country’s protagonist runners this season featuring on the start list of the 70 km race.

Matanao is located in the province of Davao del Sur on Mindanao, approximately 90 minutes car drive from Davao City and airport. It is a flourishing town and area for tourism and leisure activities and those who have been there already understand why. Runners in the event this weekend will enjoy lush green scenery, plenty of impressive waterfalls and beautiful rolling hills. In the context of trail running, locals refer to the race course as ‘trail porn’. Natural trails, most of them single trails, will provide technicality to the race and the rollercoaster up and down the hills can make the 70k quite tough, indeed. MMM was an ATM Candidate Race last year and is part of the extensive portfolio of events of Vertical To Sky and Doi Calbes, who also does, amongst others, the Mt Apo Sky Race in December and The Punisher in August.

Reigning ATM Champion Arnie Macaneras, who is from Davao, is scheduled to run the 70k as part of his late season campaign that should lead to the defence of his ATM title at Siksorogo Lawu Ultra on 2 December. Just three weeks ago, Macaneras very much looked the part in Vietnam Mountain Marathon, where he demolished the rest of the competitive field on the 70km race distance. Based on that performance, it is hard to see who can follow him in Matanao this weekend. Still, there’s quite a lot of other podium challengers and recognised race winners in the field to give it a go. Yoyong Sacayle has been in great form this season, having collected three ATM race podium finishes so far already. Maynard Encormal scored two himself and is reportedly very determined to ensure he gets qualified for the ATM Final. So is the 22-year-old youngster John Ivan Zonio, a surprising second behind Jeff Campbell in the Sierra Madre Trail 75 in May. Zonio also finished his first 100 at the very competitive TMBT early September inside the top ten. Angelito Vertudazo was an ATM Finalist last year and always strong in Mindanao. Avelino Versola III and Iasias Tonog II have been running very well this season, reflected by their current sixth and seventh place in the ATM Philippines ranking. Sean Aying had an off-day in Vietnam Mountain Marathon 100, but has otherwise been a regular top placer with third on the podium at Mantra 116 as a highlight. Ronnie Torlao is a former Mt Apo race winner and always in the mix for a solid result. Ariehmar Bardoquillo finished fourth in Sierra Madre, and Richard Akol came 8th in TMBT 50.

The women’s 70k race is likely to develop into a battle between Davao’s Julie Ann Morales, who knows the trails, and Cecille Wael. Morales was a great newcomer on the scene last year, culminating in a great fifth place in the ATM Championship Final on Mt Apo. She has won two ATM races so far: The Punisher in 2022 and MUSPO 100 last July. Wael has been around since 2018 and collected many race podiums before her stand-out competitive performance in winning CMU 50 last year ahead of many other ATM protagonists. She does a lot of races, but if she is fresh Matanao offers a great opportunity to bag another 500 points in her quest to be part of Team Pilipinas in the ATM Final this season. Manilyn Mamugay is arguably the dark horse in this race and never to be underestimated. Mary Joy Sumanda can do a great job for her ATM Final chances, and so does Irish Glorioso, winner of the first ATM race this season in Laos.

Matanao Mountain Marathon with Macaneras