Godwin Mirar took an important step forward towards qualification for his country’s team in the upcoming Season 11 ATM Championship Final at Mu Cang Chai Ultra Trail in Vietnam. At last weekend’s Marilog Ultra in the western Marilog District of Davao in Mindanao, the 25-year-old ran in the lead from basically start to finish to take another ATM race victory, just one month after MUSPO 100. It was his third race of the season in our series and he now totals 1260 points. In a country such as Philippines that is most likely not enough, given the high number of competitive runners in the country aiming to be part of the Championship team in Vietnam. In the ATM points ranking, it’s the best four results of each runner that count. Mirar is scheduled to run Jagoi Ultra in Malaysia next in two weeks.

While Roberto Cain III - himself still aiming for a team spot for the Championship Final - Zaire Abecia and Yoyong Sacayle were running second, third and fourth for nearly the entire 70km race at Marilog, it was the youngster from Santa Cruz Danny Gumia who reached the finish line in second place! Showing great stamina and grit for such a young trail runner over this distance, it was an eye-opening ATM debut for Gumia.

Roberto Cain III managed to score third on the podium, just ahead of Yoyong Sacayle, who at age 40, is incredibly almost a veteran in this region of the Philippines. While narrowly missing out on the podium, Sacayle did completed the third level of his Grandmaster Quest and is now a 3-star Grandmaster. Moreover, he kept his chances alive for qualification for the ATM Final. Zaire Abecia finished in fifth, ahead of Reymar Taleon and Marvin Buizon, both very consistent top finishers this season.

In the women’s 70km, it was overall ATM points leader Kimberly Flores who scored her fourth race win of the season! The runner from Bukidnon, also still just in her twenties, took a conservative start, but chased down early leader Valerie Mae Marcos after the second aid station and consolidated her winning margin afterwards. Marcos held on to a superb second place, her best performance so far in an ATM Qualifier, especially considering she stayed ahead of Shally Yuson in third. When it comes to female trail running in Mindanao in Season 11, it was all about Kimberly Flores. Only Angelie Cabalo had the measure of her in Hardcore 100 Miles in Luzon at the start of May.

For Filipino trail runners this weekend is the last chance to score ATM Championship points in order to try and qualify for the Finals in Vietnam on 3 October. While a few usual faces have their spots already secured, think reigning ATM Champion John Ray Onifa, 2022 Champion Arnie Macaneras, Kik Suello, Jomarc Ferrer, Kim Flores, Mia Revilla, several others still have some work to do if they want to be part of Team Pilipinas. Marilog Ultra in greater Davao is the event where the remaining spots may get decided - even though there’s still a few other qualifier races to go in the next few weeks.

It is the first time Marilog Ultra is on our Championship calendar, after already being on the Grandmaster Quest calendar before. The main race is indeed 70km in length, enough for the Grandmaster Quest. The race is considered quite tough and goes across ondulating terrain for approx 3300 metres of elevation gain and an uphill finish. As quite often in Mindanao, the race has a large nighttime portion. Start is scheduled for Saturday afternoon/evening and the cut-off time is 22 hours later. Start and finish is MWES Marahan in the Marilog district of Davao, to the west of the main city of Davao.

The 70 km race features some big names on the start list. Godwin Mirar, Roberto Cain III and Yoyong Sacacyle, Marvin Buizon, Reymar Taleon and Leoniel Perez will all be trying to keep or get into the ranking’s top five. But there’s also other strong runners such as Eldy Bulod and Marjones Abugan.

In the women’s race we have Shally Yuson and Janet Arnego, who just raced each other at MUSPO 100 last month, too. Shally is having a late attempt to qualify for the ATM Final again after having a lengthy break from trail running earlier this year.

The event is organised by Team Brad and has a new race director: none other than our former Champion Arnie Macaneras, wo hails from Davao, of course.

ATM will be reporting live from the race from start to finish on our usual channels.

Roberto Cain III is one of a few who can propel himself into his country’s Top 5 of the ATM ranking

Also Godwin Mirar still needs points to get qualified for the ATM Championship Final this season

Yoyong Sacayle currently sits third in the ATM ranking and could qualify for the finals again

Shally Yuson relaunched her ATM season last month at MUSPO with a 2nd place

After the unfortunate cancellation of Point Trail Ultra, which was scheduled again for mid-June, we are happy to announce that we have confirmed a new and substitute Championship Qualifier in Mindanao, Philippines. Marilog Ultra will take over. The event has been on our Grandmaster Quest aready, and in its 4th edition is now ‘stepping up’ to also attract competitive minded runners for their last chance to score points in the Philippines for the ATM Championship ranking that leads to qualification for the Finals in Vietnam on 3 October. Marilog Ultra features a 70km race that needs to be targeted. Obviously, 70km also means it’s valid for runners’ Grandmaster Quest.

The 70km at Marilog is considered quite tough and goes across ondulating terrain for approx 3300 metres of elevation gain and an uphill finish. As quite often in Mindanao, the race has a large nighttime portion. Start is scheduled for Saturday afternoon/evening and the cut-off time is 22 hours later. The 2026 course map will be made available very soon.

Interestingly, 2022 ATM Champion Arnie Macaneras has taken over from Grandmaster Julieann Morales as race director for the event this season. The event is organised by Team BRAD.

Start and finish is MWES Marahan in the Marilog district of Davao, to the west of the main city of Davao. Registration is already open and please note that there is a maxium quota for each race distance, including the relevant 70km.

Further details can be obtained via Team Brad’s facebook page.

This weekend, trail runners on the Grandmaster Quest can also score a point at the Marilog Ultra event in Mindanao, Philippines. The 70km race was a Candidate Race last year and features on the Grandmaster calendar for the first time . Organised by Team Brad and directed by 2-star Grandmaster and former ATM Finalist Julieann Morales, Marilog Ultra takes place in a district west of Davao City and southeast of Bukidnon.

The 70km has an estimated elevation gain of 3600 hm. The toughest part is the mid-section , as can be seen from the elevation profile , and the trail to the finish line also goes uphill. Last year, the 70km race was won by Roberto Cain III in the men’s and Shekinah Velasquez in the women’s. Among the favourites for this weekend’s edition we have Jomarc Ferrer, ATM Finalist, 3-star Grandmaster Sean Aying, Punisher 2024 co-winner Eldy Bulod and Allan Gadong. The women’s race seems to have less outspoken favourites, but the name of Julie Mae Marquez always sticks out in Mindanao. Lots of Grandmasters on the start list as well, runners aiming to get that extra GM point on the way to their next level on the Quest.

ATM will be reporting from Marilog Ultra thanks to our contributors Christine and Brian.

Marilog Ultra 70 in Mindanao, Philippines, offers finishers of the 70km race a Grandmaster Quest point at the event scheduled for 30/31 August. Organised by Team BRAD, last year’s ATM Candidate Race received acclaim from many participants

Marilog Ultra aims to be more than just a race. It's about giving back to the community, protecting the environment, and promoting eco-friendly tourism in the area. The race director is 2-star Grandmaster and 2-time ATM Finalist Julieann Morales, herself one of the leading trail runners in Mindanao and a multiple race winner in ATM.

The Marilog event has four different distance categories on the programme. The 70km is the Grandmaster distance and has an estimated elevation gain of 3629 hm. The course map will be available in due course. Start and finish is MWES Marahan in the Marilog district of Davao, to the west of the main city.

Registration is already open via the button and form below. To stay up to date on what is happening, please follow the facebook page of the event.

Roberto Cain III and Shekinah Velasquez were the great winners of Marilog Ultra 70 in Davao, Philippines, last weekend, one of several events that obtained the ATM Candidate Race label this season. Marilog was blessed with the participation of several Filipino top runners, and their feedback of the 70km long race, over ondulating terrain was generally very positive. Team Brad, including female star and triple-race-winner this ATM season Julieann Morales, is gradually becoming a reference in Mindanao.

Roberto Cain III was also a recent winner at MUSPO 100 in Bukidnon, a race that was not part of the ATM Championship but nevertheless has built a solid reputation with Larry Apolinario and John Ray Onifa as previous race winners over there. To win last Sunday, Cain had to stay ahead of ATM Finalist Jevie Cagatin and recent co-Punisher winner Eldy Bulod. Even when Cagatin said that he did not push 100% with a view to the upcoming ATM Championship Final race at Borneo TMBT, it remains a remarkable performance by Cain III. Yet another upcoming talent from Mindanao!

In the women’s race, Shekinah Velasquez had the upper hand almost from the beginning. Geia Hestra came second.

We are happy to announce that Marilog Ultra 70 in Davao, Phillipines, has received the ATM Candidate Race label for the event on 31 August/1 September. Organised by Team BRAD, Marilog aims to be more than just a race. It's about giving back to the community, protecting the environment, and promoting eco-friendly tourism in the area. The race director will be Julieann Morales, herself one of the leading trail runners in Philippines and a winner of three ATM points races already this season.

The Marilog event has four different distance categories on the programme. The 70km is the longest and has an estimated elevation gain of 3629 hm. The 42km has 2325 hm of elevation gain, the 21km 1300hm and the 12km nearly 800 hm. The course map can seen via Google Earth and is linked below. Start and finish is MWES Marahan in the Marilog district of Davao, to the west of the city.

Registration is open and can be done easily online.