MUSPO 100: Roberto Cain III and Shally Yuson score another victory

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