TMBT: Kitamura returns to his favourite race, but Amat runs the 50k

Anyone who thought that Hisashi Kitamura had enough of Borneo TMBT Ultra after finally winning the 109km classic race last year was pretty much mistaken. The Karate Kit will be back again this Saturday morning in Sabah, Malaysia, for his final ATM qualifier ahead of the Championship Final in Vietnam in five weeks’ time. However, his big rival of the past years, local star Milton Amat, won’t be competing against him this year. Milton has chosen to go for the 50km race this weekend, and so has Wilsen Singgin.

And yet, we should also not expect a walk in the park now for Hisashi Kitamura, even though he has appeared as strong as ever in the few races he has ran in Japan this season. The younger elites of the Sabahan runners, such as Oswald Maikol and Willy Wilson, will certainly try to follow him and be motivated to beat him when possible. Maikol has even won the 109km race already, in the year - 2024 - when the ATM Championship Final was held at TMBT on a slightly shorter and unique course. And let’s not forget Bernardo Linus, who had a great performance at BUTM earlier this year. Even Kitamura has had weaker days, also at TMBT where he will start for the sixth time this weekend. Four times second place, and one liberating victory against Milton Amat last year. The big goal for him comes early October. If the stars align for him and it doesn’t get too muddy in Vietnam, Kitamura will be more than ready to challenge John Ray Onifa and the other top guns for that so. far elusive ATM Champion title.

The women’s 109km looks more open as has become the norm in Malaysia this season. No outstanding favourite perhaps, but with Harlin Richard - second in the current ATM Malaysia points ranking behind Ryehana Jap who is running the 50 this weekend. An opportunity for Richard to take her first ATM race victory after podium places at KAR and BUTM this season. Also Lolitah Lintanga features on the 100k start list, contrary to her sisters Jessica and Adelinah, both aiming for the 50. A good result could push Lolitah back up inside her country’s top five in points ranking, which leads to automatic qualification for the ATM Final coming soon.

Ryehana Jap has been one of the revelations in Malaysia this season, competitively speaking. As a local Sabahan, she will be keen to take the top step on the podium. However, she doesn’t enter the race as the top favourite. That role should be assigned to Philippines’ Angelie Cabalo. One of the top elite runners in Southeast Asia of the past few years and a double race winner already earlier this ATM season. In May she won the famous H1 , Hardcore 100 Miles in her first attempt at the distance. Before that, Cabalo also was victorious in Sierra Madre Trail Ultra. A strong result this weekend could put her in Team Pilipinas for the ATM Final with just 3 races. Besides the aforementioned Lintanga sisters, there’s a few more contenders such as in-form Halimatun Sa’adiah and Singapore’s Zoe Tan, second in Mantra and in UTSG this season.

Milton Amat and Wilsen Singgin inevitabiy rank as the ones to beat in the men’s 50km. The main question is who will beat who. Until last year, the answer would have been Milton, but Wilsen had him a couple of times since then. TMBT 50 also has a special finish line, with a steep uphill climb at the very end. The 50k here also always brings about some new faces. One of them to be reckoned with is Vietnam’s Sung A Phu, coming from Sapa. Who says ‘ Sapa ‘ thinks of Hau Ha. Sung A Phu, indeed, is part of her team. Also Japan’s Taichi Yui, who won both races in Laos this season, is on the start list.