Posts tagged mindanao
Score a Grandmaster point at Arakan Mountain Run

New on the Grandmaster Quest calendar in 2026 is Arakan Mountain Run in Cotabato, Mindanao, Philippines. Organised by Vertical To Sky, the second edition of the event has a scenic 80km long ultra and is scheduled for the weekend of 21/22 March. The event venue is the Katipunan Central Elementary School in Arakan.

Less ambitious runners can also choose the 42km, 25km or 14km options.

Arakan is a municipality between Davao del Sur and Bukidnon and blessed with natural resources and magnificent landscapes. Runners should definitely also try the local cacao drink, which is a genuine treat. The 80km course features the 3 famous waterfalls of Arakan -Matigol, Epol and Lebbas. The 2026 course map will be released in due course.

As always, Vertical To Sky remains true to its boutique style of trail events with restricted participation numbers to give everyone the chance to fully enjoy the place and the trails. For registration, kindly check-out the details on the poster, or you can do an onsite registration at Podium Multisport in Davao.

Roberto Cain III wins 100 Miles at Mount Apo Sky Race

He was the biggest pre-race favourite and he totally lived up to the expectations: Roberto Cain III also added the Mount Apo Sky Race to his ever expanding list of trail race wins. Cain was strongest in the very tough inaugural 100 Miles race ahead of Yoyong Sacayle, who made a great return to championship racing himself. For Cain it was his second ATM points race win of the year after BTR Bali 100 in May. He is part of Team Pilipinas for the upcoming ATM Championship Final at the 9 Dragons in Hong Kong on 28 February. Sacayle was on the podium as eighth in the Season 8 Championship Final and finished 13th last year at Borneo TMBT in Season 9’s conclusion. He did not take part in any qualifying races since then, but aims to be back in the team in 2026.

There were only six finishers on the 100 Miles with Kenmark Ladrillono grabbing the final spot on the podium. Australia’s Andrew Farmers was running in third for a long time, but he was one of many who called it quits after the skies opened and runners got battered by heavy rainfall (truly a common theme this autumn).

100 Miles Finishers:

1. Roberto Cain III (Davao City) - 39:47:20

2. Joselino Sacayle (Malaybalay City) - 40:14:15

3. Kenmark Ladrillono (Koronadal City) - 41:38:15

4. John Marvin Buizon (Valencia Bukidnon) - 44:15:01

5. Jovane Adam (Tagum City) - 44:15:02

6. Leoniel Perez (Cabadbaran City) - 44:15:03

The 42 km was the second ATM Championship qualifier, designed for medium distance enthusiasts. As expected, Jomarc Ferrer and Kimberly Flores took top honours in this category. Ferrer was faster than Grandmaster Reymar Taleon and Oliver Enot. For Ferrer it was the first ever ATM points race victory, for Flores the second after winning The Punisher last August.

The next Filiino qualifying points race event is New Corella Trail Ultra in Davao del Norte on 20/21 December.

Mount Apo Sky Race goes 100 Miles

Season XI of the Asia Trail Master Championship continues this weekend with the Mount Apo Sky Race, one of the oldest and more prestigious events in Mindanao. The races from the sea to the summit of the highest mountain in the Philippines have been redesigned for its 8th edition and for the first time features a 100 Miles distance category., alongside a 80km, 42km and 21km category. Runners aiming for Championship points need to choose between the 100 Miles and the 42km , while runners looking to score a Grandmaster point can also opt for the 80km besides the 100 miles.

Despite it’s decade-long history and impressive winners’ list, the Mount Apo Sky Race has always remained a boutique trail running event with modest participation rates, but by design. Event director Doi Calbes from Vertical To Sky is himself a 2-star Grandmaster and fan of ‘authentic trail experiences’ . No big mass at the starting line this weekend, but a group of distinguished and experienced ultra trail athletes. The traditional Mount Apo Sky Race was already a tough and in parts technical affair (the Boulderface towards the summit of Apo is legendary, not in the least after the event hosted the ATM Championship Final in 2022 with Hau Ha and Arnie Macaneras as winners). Now adding another 60-80km to the course creates a lot of unknowns for every participant, so it’s clear this cannot be someone’s first miler.

Roberto Cain III is one of the big favourites in the men’s race. Winner of BTR 100 in Bali this year and ATM Finalist for the upcoming Season 10 Final at the 9 Dragons in Hong Kong, Cain has already won several of the toughest ultras in Mindanao. Mount Apo is still missing on his record, though. He will be challenged for the win by Yoyong Sacayle, who is making his return to the ATM Championship after a break of more than one year. Sacayle is also no stranger to adventures. Rexell Aguirre will also be a serious contender. A runner who doesn’t race often, but usually performs well when he does. The dark horse will be Sabah-based Australian Andrew Farmers. Used to similar mountainous jungle terrain, Farmers will in any case not be afraid of the 100 miles distance. He likes doing even longer ultras! Incidentally, the same can be said of the women’s race favourite, Ann Jilian Pulanco. A race winner at Sierra Madre in 2023, Pulanco can collect her second ATM race win this weekend.

The 42km race does not go to the summit of Mount Apo and caters for medium distance trail runners. ATM Finalist Jomarc Ferrer will be the one to beat, on paper, with Kimberly Flores the favourite for the women’s race.

Start and finish is still at the Playa de Oboza resort venue on the beach in Santa Cruz, close to Davao City. Last year, the event offfered GM points only and was won by rising star Godwin Mirar on his 100k debut. Rizalyin Lauron was strongest woman last year.

You can follow the action live on our ATM Facebook page this weekend, with focus on the 100 Miles and 42km races.

Last year: Godwin Mirar on the famous Boulderface

ATM Finalist Roberto Cain III won BTR 100 in Bali this year

ATM Finalist Jomarc Ferrer is the favourite in the men’s 42km race

Returning to the ATM Championship after a one-year break: Yoyong Sacayle

Ultra long distance specialist Andrew Farmers will keep the Filipinos honest this weekend

It’s quite likely that Ann Jilian Pulanco scores her 2nd ATM race win this weekend on Mt Apo, after Sierra Madre in 2023

Kimberly Flores won The Punisher 80 this year. She can add the Mt Apo 42 to her record this weekend

SC 70 - Arnie Macaneras and Shally Yuson victorious at Grandmaster event

Last weekend’s SC 70 race in Santa Cruz, Davao, Philippines, gave runners another chance to add a Grandmaster point to their records. As announced, it was a tough one, and technical, with rain that made matters even more complicated. Up front there was of course also a competition. 2022 ATM Champion and local hero Arnie Macaneras crossed the finish line with an impressive time of 12 hours and 4 minutes as male race winner. It was his first real race in two months. Macaneras is also scheduled to run the upcoming Season 10 Championship Final at the 9 Dragons in Hong Kong. last year, he still finished 3rd in Season 9’s Final at Borneo TMBT. In second place behind him was emerging talent Rodel Angatan, followed by Elbert Ligan who took third on the podium.

Just two weeks after winning DASAL 80, Bukidnon’s Shally Yuson also proved strongest female in SC 70. Becoming ever more consistent and dominant on Filipino trails, Yuson led from start to finish and came in in 19 hours (also showing how tough the course was). Luzon’s Jennifer Comandante secured second place in 21 hours, followed by Dolly Alonso in third.

Trail runners can stick around in Santa Cruz and Davao, because next weekend is the next event already: the Mount Apo Sky Race. This year, the redesigned Mount Apo event is also a qualifier again for the ATM Championship points ranking.

Triple header with Malnad Ultra and Island Trail Awaji, plus SC 70

Season 11 continues this weekend with a doubleheader for the ATM Championship points ranking, plus a third event valid for the Grandmaster Quest. It’s been a difficult month for trail running in Southeast Asia, particularly, with heavy rainfall causing landslides resulting in event cancellations or postponements in quite a few places. Especially Vietnam is hard-hit. Our Season 10 Final at Mu Cang Chai already got cancelled in early October, and in recent weeks also the two Dalat events Lam Dong Trail and Prenn Trail Summits have been compelled to postpone to a later date. For this weekend, the forecast in the three relevant countries looks good, though.

Malnad Ultra is still the only ATM qualifying event in India. Taking place in the Karnataka region close to Bengaluru, the programme has received a few little tweaks for this year’s edition but the bottom line has remained the same: a 50km loop in the large coffee plantation that can be done once or twice. Last year, Shashwat Rao once again took the win in the 100km, while a group of young Nepali runners featuring Rayma Rawal and Kalpana Budha stole the show in the women’s 50km race.

In Japan, we have a debut for Island Trail Awaji on the ATM Championship calendar. Recommended by 2-star Grandmaster and multiple race winner and Finalist, Yuta Matsuyama, this event features a very scenic 43km points race on Awaji island, off the coast from Kobe and Kansai. It’s an A to B race with no fewer than 2200 metres of elevation gain, so this one is quite treacherous. On the start list, several big names of the Japanese trail scene. 2024 Izu Trail Journey winner Koken Ogasawara is arguably the top favourite, but he will need to watch out for e.g. the experienced and former 9 Dragons winner Kazefumi Ose and the aforementioned Yuta Matsuyama. Island Trail Awaji is the first of potentially five Japanese qualifying events in Season 11 of the Asia Trail Master Championship.

Over in Mindanao, Philippines, trail runners will gather in Santa Cruz, near Davao, for the first race of a double weekender. Team Jegol is organising SC 70 starting this Saturday, one of the races on our Grandmaster Quest calendar. Next week, also in Santa Cruz, is the traditional Mount Apo Sky Race by Vertical To Sky, a qualifying points race event for the ATM Championship this season. Even without Mount Apo on the itinerary, SC 70 is certainly much more than a warm-up. No fewer than an estimated 4800 metres of elevation gain need to be conquered during the 72 km long ultra race. On the start list we find many familiar names of runners, Grandmasters or runners aiming to become Grandmaster. For the race victory, two big names stand out in the male and female categories: 2022 ATM Champion Arnie Macaneras and Shally Yuson. A “home race” for Arnie, it will be interesting to see if anyone feels courageous to try and follow him this weekend. Shally Yuson hails from Bukidnon, but has proven this year she can win races anywhere now.

Marilog Ultra offers a Grandmaster point for the first time

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.

team brad facebook page
The Punisher sees the return of Godwin Mirar

Six years after it all started for the then just 19-year-old, Godwin Mirar returns to The Punisher this weekend as part of a renewed ambition to qualify for this season’s ATM Championship Final. Indeed, we are entering the final three qualifying points races of Season 10 with the big day at Mu Cang Chai in Vietnam just under two months away from today. The Punisher on Babak Samal already celebrates its 11th edition and while it has always stayed loyal to its ‘grassroots’ nature it’s become a great race to have on your record as a trail runner, whether as a competitor or a Grandmaster Quest point seeker. The 80km points race has a new start and finish venue, so the course has also undergone some changes. The island, just off the coast of Davao City in Mindanao, features a great mixture of runable and technical trails.

Godwin Mirar actually already ran this race twice. After his amazing 4th place as a 19-year-old in 2019 behind Hisashi Kitamura, Arnie Macaneras and then-ATM Champion John Ellis, Mirar finished 3rd on the podium in 2022 behind Kitamura and Macaneras again. Now in 2025, he is unmistakenly the runner to beat this Saturday. It’s been almost four months since his fantastic race win in the Penang Sky Race and with The Punisher he continues his ATM season in a last-minute attempt to qualify for Team Pilipinas in the ATM Championship Final early October. Mirar is also scheduled to run the 50km at Borneo TMBT in two weeks.

His main competitors this weekend are expected to be Sean Aying and Marjones Abugan, both also keen to keep or earn a spot on the team for the Championship Final. Aying is currently fifth in the points ranking, just ahead of Mirar. Abugan has more work to do to still try to get in, but has been in excellent form recently. There’s more international runners with the same ambitions, and trail runners with ambition often can cause surprises. Singapore’s Ko Ing Hui and Japan’s Eiji Tagami, for example.

The female race has less outspoken candidates for race victory. Youngsters like Kimberly Flores, Metzi Joy Alson and Julie Mae Marquez are all in with a good shot. Rachel Chan from Hong Kong needs a good result to get herself qualified for her country’s team again, and might be a serious challenger for the local aces. Over the past two years, Rachel has often proven to be competitive when she wants, e..g 7th in the ATM Final 2023 and 2nd in Silabur 100 in Sarawak last year. Her compatriot Ellen Cheng is also on the start list, a 2-star Grandmaster and winner of the very technical V Trail 85 this year. From Sabah, we also have Vianah Ng Chen Sia.

ATM will be reporting live from The Punisher 80km on Saturday, as always subject to connectivity.

Kik Suello and Eldy Bulod, last year’s co-winners at the Punisher

Ko Ing Hui will try to run himself again into Team Singapore for the ATM Final

Already a 2-time finalist, Rachel Chan needs a good Punisher to qualify for the 3rd year in a row

The race when it all started for Godwin Mirar: The Punisher in 2019 (he came 4th behind Kitamura, Macaneras and John Ellis

Earn a Grandmaster point at DASAL on 8/9 November

Datu Salumay Invitational Trail Run, perhaps better known as ‘DASAL’, is a new entry on the ATM Grandmaster Quest calendar on the weekend of 8/9 November 2025. The popular event takes place in Marilog - some 80km outside of Davao City and - indeed - has a full decade’s history already! This will be the 11th edition and following last year’s Candidate Race label, the organisers continue with the freshly introduced long ultra category of 85km that has instilled fear in many participants. Hence, the race carries the tagline “Leave you fears beehind” At least, it is regarded as a considerable challenge with 5000 metres of elevation gain on paper. Of course, the 85km is the category to go for if you wish to score a Grandmaster Quest point. For less ambitious runners there is still the shorter distances of 42km, 21km and 12km during the weekend. For those wondering: the bee is the event’s mascotte, chosen also to highlight the importance of bees for the natural environment.

The trails of Datu Salumay will have runners passing by waterfalls, streams, rivers, trees, grasslands, and steep hill ascents and descents. It starts and finishes at the Datu Salumay Elementary School grounds, which is just adjacent to the Syre National Highway. The start is usually at 2 pm in the afternoon, meaning nearly everyone will also need to run through the night, which at least has the benefit of being cooler.

Last year, the long ultra saw victories by Roberto Cain III and Metzi Joy Alson.

You can check the official facebook page for more details. Registration is open and you can also order some nice-looking merchandise while you are at it.

dasal official facebook page
MUSPO 100 featuring Roberto Cain III, Jevie Cagatin and Shally Yuson

The annual MUSPO event in Valencia, Bukidnon, on the southern Mindanao island of the Philippines keeps attracting large numbers of trail runners. As also illustrated by Point Trail Ultra in nearby Malaybalay last month, the sport is absolutely booming in this part of Southeast Asia. It’s the fourth year in a row that MUSPO features on the ATM calendar and this season it’s the 100km category that draws all our attention. Some of the country’s finest trail runners will toe the starting line on Saturday in the penultimate ‘home’ race of the season. Next month, The Punisher in Davao will be the last chance for Filipino runners to score more ATM Championship points in their attempts to get into Team Pilipinas for our ATM Championship Final at Mu Cang Chai Ultra Trail in Vietnam on 4 October.

2022 ATM Champion Arnie Macanears features on the MUSPO 100 start list, but it remains to be seen whether he will effectively show up. If he does, he would be the logical favourite to win the men’s race. However, there is competition for victory: BTR Ultra winner Roberto Cain III and also last year’s highest ATM points scorer Jevie Cagatin should be the main opponents. Marjones Abugan and 3-star Grandmaster Sean Aying could also be in the mix for podium. And who knows we get to know a new local name once more. So many locals started running in the past two years, we are bound to discover some more new talents.

In the women’s race we were looking forward to a nice race for victory between Shally Yuson, in superb form this season, and Julieann Morales. However, earlier this week Morales was forced to pull out of MUSPO with a significant ankle injury that manifests itself especially when going downhill. Plenty of other female runners on the start list, and as with the men, let’s see if anyone can rise to the occasion and give Shally Yuson a run for her money this weekend.

ATM will be reporting live from Valencia on ATM Facebook and the usual channels.

Shally Yuson: in great form this season with two wins already

Roberto Cain III: superb winner of BTR Ultra last May

Jevie Cagatin: scored most points of all Filipinos last year. This season he has been consistent, yet lacking a win

Earn a Grandmaster Point at Santa Cruz Trail Ultra

Santa Cruz near Davao in Mindanao, Philippines, has become one of the trail running hubs in the country and the wider Southeast Asia region and this is illustrated by the now many events being organised there. Today we are happy to announce that Santa Cruz Trail Ultra has entered the Grandmaster Quest calendar. Established by Santa Cruz Trail Runners and with Grandmaster*** Sean Aying as race director, the event was a Candidate last year and is now scheduled for 27/28 September 2025. Runners on the Grandmaster Quest need to aim for the 75km category.

2025 is the third edition of the Sta Cruz Trail Ultra. The event is in celebration of the 141st Araw ng Sta. Cruz, a tribute to the rich heritage and awe-inspiring landscapes of Santa Cruz in Davao del Sur. While the 75km is the main category, less ambitious runners can also choose 3K, 15K, and 30K categories options. As the official SCTU intro reads: “the event will be guiding participants through the heart of the central mountain ranges and across the rugged ridgelines of majestic summits. The course reaches its climax at Mt. Tinako, standing proudly at over 1,300+ above sea level—the highest point of the race—offering not just a test of endurance, but views that will take your breath away. “

Interesting to note is that SCTU is part of the Trailblazer Program under the Sta. Cruz Tourism Office, positioning the municipality as a top trail running destination in Southern Mindanao. A strong focus on eco-tourism and community involvement, the event brings together athletes, nature lovers, and local stakeholders for a cause that goes beyond the finish line.

The start venue is the new Sta Cruz New Municipal Hall and the 75km will be flagged off on Saturday afternoon 4 pm. Santa Cruz can be reached easily by public transport and grab cars from Davao City.

Online registration is open and can be accessed via the button below. It is also recommended to join the facebook page of the event to stay up to date on latest developments.

official facebook page
online registration
Point Trail 70: First ever ATM victory for Kik Suello as Shally Yuson goes 2-in-a-row!

Bukidnon has become a genuine trail running hub alongside Davao in Mindanao in the southern part of the Philippines, and Point Trail Ultra was testimony to that fact. A solid technical organisation supported by a wonderful vibe created by the various local and regional trail communities made PTU one of the standout experiences of the current season. On top, Bukidnon ace Shally Yason scored her second back-to-back ATM race win just five weeks after the renowed Hardcore 100 Miles in Luzon. And in the men’s points race, it was the first ever victory for Kik Suello, after innumerable podium places in the past two seasons. 

Kik Suello’s win did not come by accident either. The runner from Zamboanga, 7th in last year’s ATM Final, went out to get it on merit. Over halfway into the race by the end of the night, he passed the early race leader Eric Candelanza and also got rid of Kristian Joergensen on an uphill stretch. By that time, pre-race co-favourites like Jevie Cagatin, BTR Ultra hero Roberto Cain III, Jomarc Ferrer, Eldy Bulod, Isaiah Paraiso and Marjones Abugan were already looking at quite a gap that they would not be able to close anymore. In fact, Bulod and Paraiso would even DNF and score zero points. As Candelanza gradually faded towards the end, it was Suello vs Joergensen for victory. Both were more or less running at the same pace only some five minutes apart. Suello, sensing he could finally grab that elusive ATM race victory, did not waste any time at the last two aid stations. Joergensen is always a formidable competitor, and kept the pressure on. The result at the end was two amazing finishing times of 8h05 for Suello and 8h15 for Joergensen. And this for a 70k race with over 4000 hm of elevation gain and lots of muddy, slippery, treacherous trails. A fantastic dual between the two, competitive trail running at its best. Candelanza salvaged his 3rd spot on the podium, a great ATM debut for him. He crossed the finish line in 8h39. Almost one hour later, Jomarc Ferrer outsprinted Roberto Cain III for fourth place, and excellent and potentially significant result with a view to his ambition to qualify again for Team Pilipinas at the ATM Championship Final in Vietnam on 4 October. Cain III said afterwards he had trouble with his stomach throughout the race. In sixth, after running fourth for quite a while, was Jevie Cagatin, who also was not yet 100% fit after a bit of an injury recently. Marjones Abugan did well in seventh place, closely followed by Dan Fernandez in eighth. 

The women’s race was more clear cut. At the first aid station, Shally Yuson and Erlicete Paragoso were still together, but in the next section Yuson already went solo. She quickly developed a substantial gap to Paragoso and Kimberly Flores, with Valerie Marcos close behind in fourth place. Most of the race nothing changed, but towards the end Paragoso faded and Marcos launched quite an incredible push and overtook both Paragoso and Flores to look for Yuson. In the end, the gap was big enough for Yuson to just maintain a consistent pace and win in 11h52, but it was nevertheless surprising when Marcos finished just 12 minutes after her. Great final third of the race by Marcos. Kimberly Flores finished about an hour later in 12h46. Paragoso still cramped up and lost fourth place to Metzi Joy Alson, who is having a very solid season that might get awarded come September with a spot in the team for the ATM Championship Final. The same applies for Shekinah Velasquez, who finished seventh last Sunday behind Daryl Palomar. Cristine Montuya never featured at the front this time around, yet still scored useful points for eigth place. 

The next ATM Championship points race in the Philippines takes place in Bukidnon as well. MUSPO 100 in Valencia, a bit closer to Davao compared to Malaybalay. 

Point Trail Ultra: great racing expected!

Sunday’s Point Trail Ultra in Malaybalay in Bukidnon, Mindanao is the next points race in the Philippines, a country where the battle for ATM Championship points is for real. There’s no shortcuts to earn a ticket to the team that goes to the ATM Championships here, so many of the country’s trail stars will be present for the 70km race that starts at midnight.

It is a debut for Point Trail Ultra in the ATM Championship, after a successful stint as a Candidate Race last year. The 70km race is quite serious business when looking at the estimated elevation gain of 4150 hm, although race director and 2-star Grandmaster Yoyong Sacayle argues the course is runable. Rain might alter that, as there has been precipitation in the afternoons over the past few days and it’s actually the wet season still in Bukidnon. The course is essentially a rollercoaster without distinctive mountain peaks, but to negotiate the relentless ups and downs one better has good legs on race day.

Among the anticipated protagonists in the men’s race, a trio perhaps stands out slightly, but there’s definitely a handful of others who may just take the upper glory tomorrow. Kristian Joergensen, Kik Suello and Roberto Cain III will be the ones most look out for. But then there’s also proven contenders and race winners such as Jevie Cagatin, Isaiah Paraiso, Jomarc Ferrer and Eldy Bulod.

Roberto Cain III, fresh of an impressive 100k race win at BTR Ultra in Bali, will be keen to now also prove himself against Kristian Joergensen, a Filipino resident for years and the benchmark for many in the country. Kristian himself is keen on adding an ATM Championship to his palmares, especially after seeing Jeff Campbell manage that feat at 40+ in Borneo TMBT last year. Point Trail will already be his 5th ATM race of the season, and he finally won again in his last one: Mount Ugo Marathon 50k just over a month ago. A new victory on Sunday would be his 9th ever and put him alongside Hisashi Kitamura and Milton Amat in the all-time ranking. But a victory is exactly what Kik Suello wants, before he becomes the eternal ‘runner-up’. He has been collecting podium places since last season, but an official win has eluded him so far. Already this year, it’s been 1x second and 3x third. He no longer needs to worry about his spot in Tean Pilipinas for the ATM Final in Vietnam on 4 October, but entering that with a race win under his belt would be such a confidence booster. Jevie Cagatin already tasted victory once at Mt Kalatungan Ultra last year. Reportedly, Cagatin has been hampered by a slight injury, though, in recent times. Isaiah Paraiso won on Mount Apo in 2023 and was a Finalist last year, but Point Trail will be just his first ATM points race of Season 10. If he wants to qualify again, he better grabs as many points as possible this weekend!

The women’s 70k race features recent H1 winner Shally Yuson against Julieann Morales, impressive newcomer Kim Flores , Cristine Montuya, Shekinah Velasquez, Metzi Alson and Guia Cabigas, amongst other potential contenders. This race could remain exciting until the finish! Coming off her big win in the Harcore 100 Miler last month, Yuson may have a mental edge, but 70km is different than 100 Miles. Montuya was the race winner at Sierra Madre last year, can she score her second ATM race win on Sunday? It has been quiet so far this season around her, so maybe now will her real start. Velasquez has been a consistent points scorer this year, and if she can continue to do so she may earn herself a spot in Team Pilipinas for the ATM Final. That also applies for Metzi Alson and Guia Cabigas. Kim Flores won the 85km at Kalatungan this year, but that was not a Championship points race. Her account will open on Sunday, and some people tip her for the full 500 points..

The 70k race starts at midnight in the town centre of Malaybalay and can be followed live via the ATM Channels as usual, subject to connectivity.

Together with Kik Suello perhaps the 2 top favourites for the men’s race: Joergensen and Cain III