Hiroyuki Matsuda and Celine Loubiere claimed the spotlights in Bali last weekend as both trail runners scored their second ATM race victory of the current season. It was a fine day for competitive Japanese runners, as Yutaro Yokouchi won the men’s 60km. The women’s 100km went to South Korea’s Bo Min Park.

After a difficult start of the 105km race, recent BUTM winner Hiroyuki Matsuda joined his compatriot Akihiro Maeda at the front and ultimately had the strongest pace to win in 17h15. Another 500 Championship points in the bag for him this season: he now totals 1750 points in four races, should be sufficient to be part of Team Japan in the ATM Finals in Vietnam on 3 October. Akihiro Maeda took second place in 17h27. India's Grandmaster Shashwat Rao was a solid third place, showing again his competitiveness as a mountain runner. His time is 19h02. Russia's Igor Zaytsev grabbed fourth after a strong second half in 19h58. Rounding up the Top 5 was Italy's Silvio Pesce in 20h26. In sixth we have the first Indonesian runner, Sobiri Haerudin in 20h37. Shortly behind him are his compatriots Muhammad Abdul Majid, Rachmat Septiyanto and Yusuf Aprian. Yandi Yoko Bumi made it into the top 10. Quite a surprise that none of the local stars made it into the top five of what is now arguably the biggest Indonesian trail event.

The women's 100km race was won by Korea's Bo Min Park. She took over from local runner Dian Pradina during the night and stayed ahead of the rest by roughly one hour. It's her first ATM race victory. Ang Yee Mei from Malaysia claimed second place. Metzi Joy Alson and Alison Gauthier were competing for podium, eventually coming in together. Ruth Theresia was running third until she made a bad tumble at km 79, following which she retired from the race. Former Mantra race winner Henny Sutanda finished in fifth place.

Another Japanese victory on the 60K today: Yutaro Yokouchi won the race in 8h17, ten minutes ahead of France's Dorian Houzu. Indonesia's newcomer on the international scene, Putra Julio Ekdo Badayu, showed a lot of promise with third place on one of his first longer trail races. His time, 8h34 - so well in contention. Sobari Herdiana was fourth, Surasaka Somboon fifth.

Celine Loubiere has become a victory and podium candidate everywhere she starts and she showed again why. From France but based in Hong Kong, Loubiere was fastest on the 60K in a time of 11h01. Forty minutes ahead of Philippines' Trisha Reyes. Earlier this year, Loubiere also won the 50km at 9 Dragons and took a 3rd place in Lantau 70 to boot. One of the best performing female athletes in our series this season, she is basically assured of qualification for the Championship Finals in Vietnam on 3 October. For Trisha Reyes, these are the first 450 points of the season. Last year, she was 3rd in the 50km of 9 Dragons. Thailand's Phitchanana Mahachot scored third place on the podium. Elsa Ng from Malaysia was fourth and Jana Lindstrom from South Africa fifth.

BTR Ultra: Hiroyuki Matsuda and Celine Loubiere score 2nd ATM race win