Isaiah Paraiso and Julie Ann Morales strongest on Mt Apo

The 2023 edition of the 100km long Mount Apo Sky Race in Santa Cruz saw two wonderful race winners: Isaiah Paraiso and Julie Ann Morales. At the finish line on the beach, both had a significant gap on their nearest rivals. For upcoming talent Paraiso it was his first ever ATM race win, for Julie Ann Morales already the third, after The Punisher (2022) and MUSPO Bukidnon 100 (2023).

The men’s race initially had a nice dual between 24-year-old Paraioso and the ten years older Jevie Cagatin. Florence Alave, Jomarc Ferrer and Kik Russel Suello were still keeping up as well. Pre-race favourite and last year’s 100k winner Yoyong Sacayle was a last-minute DNS, still feeling a bit fatigued after his excellent performance in the ATM Final in Indonesia just a week before. Also ATM Finalist Sean Aying did not find the legs to compete for the podium and would eventually finish in 8th place. Former Mt Apo Sky Race winner Ronnie Torlao had to be content with 9th place as well.

Isaiah Paraiso made the difference primarily in the descent of Mt Apo and the ensuing runable part back to the finish, in this beach to summit out-and-back race. He came home in 15h18, which eventually was an impressive 2,5 hours ahead of Cagatin. The latter was chased down heavily by Alave in the final sector, but held onto second place by a mere two minutes. For both it was the first ATM race podium as well. In fact, Cagatin managed to complete this race 2h48 faster than a year ago: quite an improvement!

Julie Ann Morales had the upper hand on main challengers Shally Yuson and Manilyn Mamugay from the beginning. She reportedly had a half hour gap on the summit, which she then extended big time on the way back to the finish. Morales came in in 22h07. In fact, Christine Montuya managed to grab second place in 26h08’ after overtaking Mamugay and Yuson in the descent and the way back to the finish.

The Mt Apo Sky Race was one of two opening points races of Season IX of our ATM Championship series. The new season will end already in September, hence.

Special thanks to and photo credits for: Florence Alave, Jerrson Botea.

First ATM race victory for Isaiah Paraiso

Second place for Jevie Cagatin

Great podium for Florence Alave

Julie Ann Morales: a solid win on Mt Apo

Shally Yuson