Even for Sabahan standards, the 10th anniversary edition of Borneo Ultra Trail Marathon was extremely hot. However, it did not stop many runners from producing remarkable performances around Kiulu, roughly one hour away from Kota Kinabalu. On the 55k local hero Wilsen Singgin and Japan’s Chisato Kario proved their pre-race favourite status was legit, while on the 105k another Japanese runner - Hiroyuki Matsuda - and Singapore-based Filipino Mia Revilla took top honours.

Blue sky most of the day and no rainfall whatsoever was a big contrast with last year’s edition of BUTM. Trails were dry and therefore favoured those with high running pace. Hiroyuki Matsuda, based in Indonesia, felt like a fish in the water, apparently. Immediately taking the bull by the horns, he quickly took the lead of the 105km runners and was even mingling with the front pack of the 55k participants, who all started together at sunrise (over 650 in total). Matsuda already collected 750 ATM Championship points this season, courtesy of two solid fifth places in Tahura Trail and 9 Dragons, but for him to immediately put pressure on the likes of local hero Milton Amat, Willy Wilson, Andrew Farmers and Bernardo Linus was quite surprising. Initial fears that he would blow up beyond halfway turned out to be unjustified: nobody ever saw him again and he finished in a strong time of 14h23. Milton Amat placed his foot wrong just before halfway distance, resulting in a torn shoe and a bleeding foot. Wisely, he decided not to continue for another 50k and DNFd. An unfortunate experience for Milton, who often struggles to get enough races in to qualify for the ATM Championship Final. Luckily for him, there’s still several qualifier races in Malaysia in the next months. In the end, it was Bernardo Linus - also from Sabah - who grabbed a strong second place - his best ever race result in a long ultra. Linus has worked hard to reach this level of performance on a 100k distance and he was obviously delighted. Willy Wilson also continued to develop as a regular podium contender with third place, just a few minutes later.

In the women’s 105km, Adelinah Lintanga finally wanted to add a BUTM victory to her record. Contrary to in many other races, she pressed the speed button from the get-go and reached the first checkpoint after 12km in the leading position. Mia Revilla - originally from Davao but already living in Singapore for 12 years - was a few minutes behind. On the way to the next CP, Revilla caught up with Lintanga and pressed forward. The latter initially resisted, but by km 70 started to struggle with stomach cramps that eventually even led her to an uncharacteristic DNF. Revilla seemed to have the win in the bag, but also for her it was tough going in the end. She finished in 21h05, 49 minutes ahead of a strong Joyce Yong Hie Jing, and Harlin Richard in third, not so much ahead of Silver Grandmaster Ellen Yin Kwan Cheng from Hong Kong.

Using his vast experience accumulated the last eight years, Wilsen Singgin joined a number of other contenders early on and then pushed the throttle on the most critical uphill section halfway into the race. Nobody had an answer, but a few were certainly not giving up easily. Sheron Sariman was only a few minutes behind at the 42km mark, and he was quickly followed by Unai Garmendia - on holiday in Malaysia coming from the Basque Country in Northwestern Spain. In the descent to the checkpoint, Garmendia suffered quite a tumble, but he escaped unhurt. Christantine Mattan and David Roipin were also not too far back. 2023 Borneo Miler winner Amir Zaki, on his comeback to the racing scene, did very well and would eventually finish 8th. In the last 13km, Singgin extended his advantage to the rest and reached the finish in a good time of 6h20. Unai Garmendia came in 18 minutes later and Sheron Sariman third in 6h51.

Japan’s Chisato Kario is quickly making a name for herself in Southeast Asia. Winner of the Mount Ugo Marathon in Philippines last year (ahead of Angelie Cabalo) and of UTSG in Singapore, Kario finished 5th in the Season 10 Championship Final at the 9 Dragons. But last Saturday, she looked much more at ease with the trails in Sabah than in Hong Kong. Running together with some of the top guys, she was unthreatened for victory and finished seventh overall in 7h55. Behind her, it was quite a toss up between several proven competitors and new name Ryehana Rajap, also Sabahan. While Halimatun Sa’adiah - returning to ATM after a long break - , former BUTM winner Shamiera Auther and Lolita Lintanga were expected to take the first runner-up positions behind Kario, it was instead Rajap who emerged second in the finish in 9h13. Sa’adiah completed the podium in third, ahead of Lintanga and Auther.

The next Malaysian ATM Championship qualifier is Penang Sky Race 50km on 25 April. Grandmaster Quest chasers can focus on Merapoh Trail, returning to the ATM calendar, one week later.

Borneo Ultra Trail Marathon, better known as BUTM, is celebrating its tenth anniversary this weekend in Kiulu, Sabah, Malaysia. Formerly referred to as the ‘little sister’ of TMBT, BUTM has developed into an early season classic of its own right that plenty of trail runners want to add to their finisher collection. Taking place later than usual this season, BUTM has the typical Sabah ingredients: hot and humid weather during a tough, but fantastic run through hilly rainforests and river valleys with a great vibe of local hospitality and support.

Both the 105km and 55km races are again qualifiers for the Asia Trail Master Championship points ranking. The 105 will also give registered finishers a point for their Grandmaster Quest.

The start list sees the usual stars of the Sabahan trail scene, with in the men’s categories Milton Amat aiming for another win on the 100km and Wilsen Singgin on the 50km. Milton starts as the one-to-beat and it will be interesting to see if anyone else can rise to the occasion this season and get closer to the local star. Other contenders such as Jainuddin Sainuddin, Muhammad Hijazi Rija, Willy Wilson and Bernardo Linus can in any case aim for an attractive podium finish. In the women’s 100km, Adelinah Lintanga could eye another victory under ATM. She may need to watch out for SIngapore-based Filipino Mia Revilla and Hong Kong’s Silver Grandmaster Ellen Cheng.

More than 400 participants on the 50km, so we may get to know some new names, but Wilsen SInggin may also be seen as the big favourite on this distance. His main rival for victory may be Amir Zaki, making his return to the ATM scene after a two-year-break. Ahmad Tanjong and Gustin Tiam can also be in the mix for podium at least. The women’s 50km has one of the top finishers of the recent ATM Championship Final and part of the winning national team: Chisato Kario from Japan. Already a race winner in PMTF and UTSG last season, Chisato Kario is a 50km specialist used to the climatic conditions of Southeast Asia. Her main opponents are likely to be Lolita Lintanga and former BUTM 50 winner Shamiera Auther. It will be interesting to see how they fare against the Japanese runner.

ATM will be reporting live from Kiulu and BUTM on the usual channels, with livestream subject to connectivity.

Milton Amat is going for the 100 this weekend

Season 10 Finalist Chisato Kario is arguably the one to beat on the 50

Wilsen Singgin aims to score another ATM race win on the 50 this weekend

Former BUTM race winner Shamiera Auther

The 14th edition of Borneo TMBT Ultra Trail Marathon in Sabah is now open for registration. The 2026 edition keeps its end of August slot on the calendar, and once again features 100km and 50km qualifier races for the ATM Championship. Obviously, the 100km is also valid for the Grandmaster Quest.

TMBT is Malaysia's oldest long ultra in Malaysia with the inaugural race held in 2011. The acronym stands for "The Most Beautiful Thing", and makes reference to the iconic Mount Kinabalu, which at 4,100 m is one of Southeast Asia's highest peaks and a world heritage site. The course is considered one of the most beautiful of the season and has plenty of incredible views on Kinabalu and the surrounding areas. A true trail classic, and also the host venue of an incredible Championship Final back in 2024.

While a few changes are expected for this year’s edition, the event takes runners from the native villages at the foothills on the western side of Mount Kinabalu towards the southern side of the mountain with 50k category finishing at the viewpoint to Mt. Kinabalu at the township of Pekan Nabalu. The 109k category continues around the base of Mount Kinabalu and to the South-Eastern ridges of the mountain to finish in the village of Kundasang.

While TMBT may not be the hardest trail race of our series, it is also very often underestimated. The race has a combination of runable bits, steep terrain and technical trail sections, and the weather, usually hot in the first part of the day and with a good chance of tropical showers in the afternoon, often add to the challenge. In other words, come prepared and pay attention to the mandatory gear list for this race.

Last year, Hisashi Kitamura finally got his victory at TMBT, after four consecutive second places. One would think the Japanese “Karate Kit” finally had enough of the race, but in fact he has added it again to his race schedule! Will home hero Milton Amat, or who knows Daved Simpat, take revenge this season?

TMBT is rather easy logistics-wise. Just fly into Kota KInabalu and take a rest at one of the many comfortable yet cheap hotels or guesthouses in the city, before the race shuttle bus at 3 am. All details can be found on the website below.

Hisashi Kitamura finally won TMBT last year, ahead of Milton Amat, in his fifth attempt

Running back in time

A bit later on the calendar in 2026 due to a rather late lunar new year in most parts of Asia, BUTM will celebrate its 10th anniversary edition on the weekend of 11/12 April. Taking place in Kiulu, Sabah, the event programme retains its 100km and 50km categories, which both offer points for the ATM Championship ranking. The 100 is of course also valid for the Grandmaster Quest.

Borneo Ultra Trail Marathon, in short BUTM, is really no longer the “little sister” of TMBT. Organised by the same team, BUTM is a wonderful event in itself taking place in a different part of Sabah, in and around Kiulu. For international runners the set-up is very similar: you fly into Kota Kinabalu and can base yourself in the city. Shuttle busses will take runners to the starting line at night. The 100km and 50km races start together at 6 am.

The overall layout of the race courses with start and finish area at Kiulu will be retained, but the actual location has been changed as the Riverside Park has been closed due to ongoing construction works for a road bridge. Having Kiulu as a central start/finish area works well logistically and is convenient for runners - in particular for those driving to the venue themselves. All race categories make single loops out from the start/finish area. The 100km is still kind of a figure 8 loop. The 50km keeps the redesign that was done last year. While the total elevation gain of 5270 hm for the 100km is not excessive (2315hm for the 50km), the heat and humidity can make it feel a lot more than that. Unless it rains like last year, turning some parts of the course into genuine mudfests. In general, BUTM is a pure jungle trail experience!

Registration for the event is open and can be done after checking the website with the necessary details to read. Pay attention to the mandatory gear list and requirements. The organisers here are very serious about it and for good reason. .

Last year’s fantastic Top 3 in the men’s 50km with the Sabahan Stars

Kadamaian Ultra, perhaps better known as KAR Ultra has redesigned its event in order to celebrate its 10-year-anniversary in style. Scheduled from 24 to 26 July, KAR offers a new 100 Miles category and 80km category - both providing ATM points for the Championship ranking and the Grandmaster Quest. KAR is organised out of Kota Belud in Sabah, Malaysia.

As the official event website reads: “Each category leads runners deep into Sabah’s wild landscapes through dense rainforests, across clear rivers, and up the steep slopes of Bukit Bogung, where the terrain demands both strength and determination. Along the way, participants will witness the natural wonder of Kadamaian Valley, framed by the towering majesty of Mount Kinabalu, axx UNESCO World Heritage Site.” As beautiful as it is tough, however. Sabah is on Borneo island, and runners not only need to conquer the rugged terrain, but also the high degree of heat and humidity.

The new 100 Miles category will be a serious test of strength and determination, as we also remember from the 2023 Borneo Miler, organised by the TMBT team in Sabah. The cut-off time has been set at a generous 52 hours, however. The 80km is tough in its own right and has a COT of 29 hours. KAR 2026 is a true long ultra edition. The precise course maps will be revealed in February, but the estimated elevation gain for the miler is 6500 to 7500 hm.

KAR has been a remarkably popular event over the past decade. According to the event organisation “ it’s a movement built on passion, perseverance, and people. The event continues to embody the spirit of Kota Belud, with the unwavering support of the local Kadamaian community, volunteers, and runners who return year after year to celebrate the trail-running spirit of Borneo. Recognized internationally for its challenging terrain, cultural warmth, and unmatched natural scenery, KAR Ultra stands as a symbol of endurance and unity among runners across Asia and beyond.”

To get to Kota Belud, you fly to Kota Kinabalu in Sabah. Details on the event shuttle busses can be found on the website and checkpointspot page, where you can also register for the races. Please note that the registration has been open for a while and has been a tremendous success. BE QUICK if you still wish to be part of the 100 Miles in particular.

Running back in time

One year after hosting the exciting 2024 ATM Championship Final, Borneo TMBT Ultra again features one of the best and most competitive participant fields of the season for its 13th edition already. It proves that TMBT has really claimed its stake in Southeast Asia’s trail world and can genuinely be called a classic event, of which there are not so many in our region. For elite runners, TMBT is a race anyone wants to win at least once. For all the others, it is a race everyone wants to experience at least once. This weekend’s event features the usual 100km and 50km race categories that matter for ATM Championship points, and as the penultimate ‘qualifier’ of Season 10, it will be make-or-break for many trail runners who wish to be part of their country’s team in the ATM Championship race at Mu Cang Chai Ultra Trail in Vietnam on 4 October.

Both the 100K and the 50K this year are packed with runners who can aspire a prestigious race victory this Saturday. Focusing on the longer distance, Japan’s Hisashi Kitamura returns once more to try and finally win it after four consecutive second places! In 2019 and 2022, local hero Milton Amat had the better of him, and in 2023 it was good old Daved Simpat in a race when Kitamura - who had just moved back to Tokyo - was arguably not at his best. Many will remember last year’s ATM Championship Final, however. Jeff Campbell was fading significantly in the last 10km to the finish - which are mainly uphill -, and Kitamura nearly caught him only to finish second again. The Karate Kit is confident this season he is again in peak form, which he indeed showed in the Japanese double header Deep Japan Ultra and Shiga Kogen 100 nearly two months ago. However, this weekend he is up against Milton Amat and Daved Simpat again! So come what may, he will not get that elusive TMBT race win presented on a silver plate. In fact, Milton Amat needs the 500 ATM points for a victory if he still wants to have a small chance of getting himself qualified for Team Malaysia in the ATM Final. Milton only ran 2 ATM races so far this season, and of course it’s each runner’s best four race results that count for the points ranking. Brief, Milton is at the mercy of other Malaysians such as Vitus Daimi, Oswald Maikol, Kok Lam Yong and Assrul Aminur - all of whom are going to bank four solid results this season. And SImpat, he has never made the ATM Championship an objective, but another TMBT victory will certainly look good on his record. Besides, Milton Amat and Daved Simpat can win TMBT for a record 4th time. Kitamura, Amat and Simpat are the logical favourites to occupy the podium spots, but there’s a bunch of other runners who may throw a spanner in the works or pick up the spoils if one of the three melts down during the race. Singapore-based Humberto Baeza, for example, but also Sabah-based Australian Andrew Farmers, Moo Sat, Bernardo Linus, Haziq Asyraf and more.

In the women’s 100km , local hero Rejlen James will aim to score her 10th ATM race win. Already a TMBT winner in the past, James was - unfortunately - not at her best during the ATM Championship Final last year - and may wish to erase that memory with a solid victory this weekend. Her main competitors are not so different than in last month’s KAR Ultra. The difference is that Adelinah Lintanga, Cecille Wael, Avegail Depanay, Jamilah Durat and Dazeree Joaness have motivation to push. Besides James, basically no Malaysian woman is already certain of qualification for the team in the ATM Final next month. It’s a tight battle between many, and they’re almost all at TMBT this weekend. In addition, there’s more solid competitors such as India’s Ashwini Bhat, Vietnam’s Chau Pham, Lynda Marylyn and Pf Goh.

On the 50km, we are bound to witness a spectacular battle for victory between overall points leader in the ATM Championship ranking this season, Godwin Mirar from Philippines, local hero Wilsen Singgin - in the best shape of his life this year -, two motivated Nepali runners Arjun Rai Kulung and Lokendra Rai, and the dark horse from Vietnam: Nguyen Phuong Hieu, winner of Trail des Gombak end of June! Have we already mentioned Chris Timms, Maynard Encormal, Scott Pugh and Oswald Maikol ? Any one of those runners better be fresh and awake come sunrise on Saturday, because we can expect a serious race and pace. The question is of course, who will blow himself up and who will be able to control himself until it’s ‘money time’ ? Race tactics will be important. A lot at stake also for several of these runners: Arjun, Lokendra, Hieu, Oswald… all of them need a good result to assure themselves of qualification for their country’s team in the ATM Final. In other words, a DNF or a non-points finish is not recommended. Lokendra Rai and Arjun Rai Kulung were also there last year as part of Team Nepal. Both were in the front group with John Ray Onifa and others, but then made a crucial marking misjudgement that threw them outside the top ten. Arjun still recovered later to finish tenth in the race. For Godwin it’s his second ATM race in Malaysia. He was outstanding in winning Penang Sky Race last April, ahead of Wilsen Singgin. Since then, Singgin managed to defeat Milton Amat in KAR Ultra 50 last month. That had not yet happened too often and it was the second time this year.

The women’s 50km will also be great to follow. Philippines’ BUTM race winner Aggy Sabanal is on the start list for her second ATM race of the season after spending several months in the US. LJ Benitez, also Filipino but based in SIngapore, was a great second in UTSG 50 last June and can get herself qualfiied for Team Singapore if she does well this weekend. She has lived in Singapore for over ten years. From Japan, we have Gombak winner Akane Nemoto , who also aims to get herself into Team Japan for next month. There’s Korea’s Hyunsung Chun, Yvette Chong Mi Chun and Nurul Emyra Binti Absi.

ATM will as usual be reporting live from Borneo TMBT Ultra via our usual channels on facebook, instagram and youtube.

Borneo TMBT Ultra - Race Winners Main Distance categories

ATM Championship Final : 80 KM

2024: Jeff Campbell (HKG) and Priya Rai (NPL)

100 KM
2024: Oswald Maikol (MAS) and Laetitia Renaux (FRA)
2023: Daved Simpat (MAS) and Rejlen James (MAS)
2022: Milton Amat (MAS) and Siet Fah Lim (MAS)
2019: Milton Amat (MAS) and Wen Danyu (CHN)
2018: Daved Simpat (MAS) and Corinne Williams (USA)
2017: Milton Amat (MAS) and Eszter Csillag (HUN)
2016: Phairat Varasin (THA) and Christine Loh (MAS)
2015: Daved Simpat (MAS) and Joanna Kruk (AUS)
2014: Safrey Sumping (MAS) and Jasmine Goh (SGP)
2013: Vlad Ixel (AUS) and Olya Korzh (RUS)
2012: Jimmy Tee (MAS) and Katherine Plichta (USA)
2011: Jiri Vystein (CZE) and Katja Fink (SUI)

50 KM

2024: Daved Simpat (MAS) and Denise Ping Le (HKG)
2023: John Ray Onifa (PHI) and Vanja Cnops (BEL)
2022: Pierre-Victor Morales (FRA) and Vanja Cnops (BEL)
2019: Kim Jisub (KOR) and Lauren Woodwiss (GBR)
2018: Daniel Perez Fernandez (ESP) and Jess Lintanga (MAS)
2017: Petr Novotny (CZE) and Chris Yee Ting Kwan (HKG)
2016: Jahirin Ginsos (MAS) and Nathalie Darbon (FRA)
2015: Safrie Sumping (MAS) and Meagan Douglas (CAN)
2014: Etienne Rodriguez (FRA) and Meagan Douglas (CAN)
2013: Safrey Sumping (MAS) and Chang Zhi Zhen (TPE)
2012: Nigel Thomson (NZL) and Shiri Leventhal (USA)
2011: Jimmy Tee Chin Li (MAS) and Judy Leslie (GBR)

Overall Points Leader in Season 10: Godwin Mirar

For two years in a row , Arjun Rai Kulung was strongest in MTR 100 Miles

Lokendra Rai: finisher in the ATM Final last year.

Wilsen Singgin: home star in the best form of his life this season

Hisashi Kitamura: fifth attempt to win Borneo TMBT 100

Rejlen James: overall female points leader in Season 10 and going for ATM race win number 10!

Akane Nemoto: looking for another ATM win and qualification for the Championship Final

Adelinah Lintanga: one of several Malaysian women trying to secure her spot for the team in the Finals

Another hot edition of KAR Ultra in Sabah saw established protagonists Milton Amat, Dening Lo and Rejlen James take top honours, in addition to relative newcomer Azmil Bin Saripuddin. The latter trail runner from Sandakan in East Sabah won the men’s 110km race in convincing style - which given previous results came rather unexpectedly. Bin Saripuddin nicely tagged along with last-minute registrant and local hero Daved Simpat in the first half of the race. When Simpat pulled out with a thigh injury, Bin Saripuddin had no issue retaining his pace for the remainder, even though the equally surprising Filipino Rod Axel Butac and experienced Malaysian Syahrul Neyzam Sukasdi kept the pressure on some 15 to 30 minutes behind the leader. Last year’s winner Gustin Tiam continues to be hampered by injury and played no role at the front this year. Tiam would finish 8th .Behind the Top 3 it was Jainuddin Sainuddin, who may have secured his spot in Team Malaysia for the ATM Championship Final with this latest effort. Sainuddin crossed the line together with Haziq Asyraf, a finalist last year.

The women’s long ultra again saw Rejlen James a competitive class above the others. James has proven to be nearly unbeatable on home soil in Sabah, even though she has been struggling when traveling abroad. This was her 9th ATM race win ever, lest we forget! Philippines’ Cecille Wael, who had beaten her in Sierra Madre Trail last April, did not feature at the front in KAR. Wael lost a lot of time early on by a marshalling misjudgement and eventually had to settle for 11th place - which may jeopardise her chances to qualify for the ATM Championship Final this year. James is a guaranteed qualifier again for Malaysia, but the other spots in the team remain quite hotly contested and may only be decided come Borneo TMBT next month. Sarawak’s Grandmaster Celeste Teo ran a great 100k race - basically by herself nearly the whole way - and finished second last weekend. Adelinah Lintanga looked like a certain third place podium placer, but faded in the final 20km of the race. Jenny Jamilah Durat and Yee Ling Chai both still overtook her. Important 3rd place for Durat , in particular. She is one of several in the running for a spot in the championship final team. Behind Lintanga in fifth, it was youngster Shamiera Auther - who completed her debut on the long ultra.

The 60km medium distance for men saw a rejuvenated Milton Amat back on top. Amat had had a quiet season with only a 3rd place in BUTM 50 and this victory at least still gives him a slim possibility for qualification. He is also scheduled to run TMBT next month, but it’s a best-of-four points system and three races may just not be enough to finish the season in his country’s top five. At KAR 60, he kept Sabah’s new name Oswald Maikol behind by 17 minutes. Canada’s Francis Boutin came next, just five minutes later. Boutin reportedly will be around in SE Asia for two years, so we may get to see more of him. Wilsen Singgin was fourth - not what he had hoped for, but diarrhoea in the days before the race had weakened him. However, Singgin is certain of his spot in Team Malaysia already. It’s also his fourth consecutive qualification. Not many can say that. Hong Kong-based Mark Iandoli ran a great race and arrived at the finish in fifth place, boosting his chances for Asia Expat in the Final as well.

The women’s 60km went to Singapore’s Dening Lo as expected. Still, it remains a remarkable feat given Dening Lo did and won the tough high mountain ultra Mantra 68 just two weeks ago. Job done, too. with two race wins in the bag this season, Dening Lo should be safe to be part of Team Singapore in Vietnam on 4 October. Canada’s Elisabeth Petit, Lolita Lintanga and the surprising Sofia Raidin had a great competition for the remaining podium places. In the end, Raidin grabbed second and Lintanga third.

Malaysians still have another final chance to score ATM Championship points at home: Borneo TMBT Ultra takes place on 30/31 August.

Syahrul Neyzam Sukasdi took a great third place on the 110km

A new 3rd place in an ATM points race for Lolita Lintanga

Jenny Jamilah Durat keeps her ATM Final chances to alive with 3rd on the 110km

For the second year in succession, KAR Ultra offers 110km and 60km race options for Asia Trail Master Championship points. ‘Kadamaian’ was a great newcomer on our calendar last year and managed to create its own identity next to Sabah’s classic Borneo TMBT Ultra, which takes place again next month. The start lists promise some very interesting competitions. Local stars Wilsen Singgin, Milton Amat and Oswald Maikol are squaring off against each other on the 60km, and in the women’s 110km we have another dual between Rejlen James and Philippines’ Cecille Wael, who won Sierra Madre Trail this season ahead of Sabah’s female long ultra star. But: we also have the debut of youngster Shamiera Auther on the 110km.

KAR Ultra certainly also attracts big numbers for its two flagship categories. The 110km will have over 250 starters, for example. Perhaps the women’s 110 attracts more attention due to the aforementioned runners, but also in the men’s we have former winner Gustin Tiam returning. Tiam has had a difficult season, plagued with injury, but he knows the KAR trails like the back of his hand. Haziq Asyraf had a bit of a competitive breakthrough in this race last year and may be trying to score his first ever race win under ATM. More podium contenders in the women’s 110km are the inevitable Adelinah Lintanga, Celeste Teo and also the newcomer on the ATM scene Nurul Emyra Fazira Isnariah Binti Absi, currently ranked third in the Malaysian ATM ranking and almost for sure a qualifier for the ATM Championship Final.

The 60km will see the Sabahan stars Singgin, Amat and Maikol, but there’s others who could feature. Vitus Daimi, for example, and also Hong Kong-based Mark Iandoli. For the Malaysians competing for the five spots in Team Malaysia for the ATM Championship Final coming up in Vietnam, it's an important race. In fact, Milton Amat better aims to win both KAR 60 and TMBT next month to retain at least a chance for qualification. Milton has had a quiet season with only 1 third place result (BUTM) so far. In contrast, Wilsen Singgin can assure himself of his fourth consecutive qualification this weekend.

The women’s 60km sees Dening Lo trying to score her second victory in one month after Mantra 68. She is the logical favourite also, but will need to keep an eye out on Lolita Lintanga, Joannes Dazeree, Singapore-based Miki Ueki and perhaps Lynda Marylyn.

ATM will be reporting live from KAR Ultra all day on Saturday.

Shamiera Auther, winner of the 60k last year. Now she makes her debut on the 110k

Oswald Maikol: coming man in Sabah

Wilsen Singgin: winner last year and in even better form this season. Up against Milton Amat on the 60k

Singapore’s Dening Lo has just won Mantra 68 once again. Another top result puts her in the ATM Final

Sabah’s Rejlen James: winner last year, can she repeat and avenge her loss against Ces Wael in SM 75

Cecille Wael took a great victory over Rejlen James and others in Sierra Madre 75 this season

Kadamaian Ultra, perhaps better known as KAR Ultra, was a great addition to the ATM Championship calendar last year and we are happy that the Sabah event is confirmed for the same weekend of 26/27 July 2025. Again with two points races for the ATM Championship ranking, 110km and 60km, whereby the longest one of course also provides a Grandmaster point for finishers. Host venue is Kampung Tambatuon, which many will know as one of the aid station locations during Borneo TMBT Ultra.

Sabah remains a highly popular playground for trail runners, both Malaysian and international. Mount Kinabalu as backdrop remains magic forever. KAR Ultra has proven over the last three years that it is not a copy of TMBT and has managed to develop its own character. Local runners also turn up en masse. Including the competitive ones: last year the victories in the 110 and 60 all went to the Sabahans: Milton Amat, Rejlen James, Wilsen Singgin and Shamiera Auther.

As the KAR website reads: “Runners can expect to ascend and descend Bogung Hill, a formidable obstacle that will test their physical and mental strength. The course will also showcase the breathtaking beauty of the region, with stunning views of lush forests, crystal-clear rivers, Kadmaian valleys, and majestic Mount of Kinabalu.”

Sabah is always challenging terrain and the trails are highly affected by weather conditions. Despite the beauty of the course, this is never a pic nic. Participants should come prepared for technical sections, and for potentially smoking hot weather, too. When you are ready for everything, prepare for a wonderful experience supplemented even more by the strong spirit of community that is characteristic of Sabah.

International runners fly into Sabah via Kota Kinabalu and can make use of the shuttle service to the event venue. This shuttle van needs to be reserved in advance, details can be found below and on the event website. Online registration goes via CPS.

Shamiera Auther won last year’s female 60k race at KAR

Malaysia’s top trail runner Milton Amat ran comfortably to victory in the 110km long ultra of a well-organised Kadamaian Ultra event , also known as KAR Ultra , and is virtually assured of qualification for his country’s team in the ATM Championship Final on 14 September. That will take place in his home State of Sabah as well. Moreover, Milton won the last two editions of Borneo TMBT he started in. The ever humble and timid Milton Amat looks ready to finally become the Asia Trail Master Champion - no doubt supported highly by his own community in Sabah!

In fact, the entire Team Malaysia can dream big. Both the male and female qualifiers for the ATM Championship look very strong on paper, with also Rejlen James again proving to be unbeatable on her home trails during KAR 110. Team Malaysia will certainly try to get the Team Champions title back from the Philippines, whose runners struggled a lot with the heat last weekend at the KAR event. Poy Brillantes summed it up when he finished outside the top 25 on Sunday early morning: “it’s rainy season in Philippines now, no heat training for over a month. We will be stronger in TMBT!”

Indeed, other top Filipino contenders such as Yoyong Sacaycle and Maynard Encornal also failed to feature in the 110k race. Yoyong had started very fast and was even second still behind Gustin Tiam at the second aid station, but then he completely disintegrated and suffered from stomach cramps and the excessive heat. The same for Maynard, who now may need to add The Punisher to his race schedule to make sure he remains within the top five of his country in the ranking. Yoyong himself already set up a plan B and will run Bali Ultra this weekend.

Gustin Tiam thus set the early pace, but by AS 3 Milton Amat had caught up with him. Interestingly, he decided to continue running his own pace for the rest of the day rather than run together with good old Gustin, who himself underlined once again what competitive a season he is having. Haziq Asyraf would eventually take third place , ahead of Jailani Juhili and Wont Kudin, who became a Grandmaster as well.

Rejlen James was dominant in the women’s 110k race from start to finish and looked every bit as different as in Mantra 116 three weeks ago. In Indonesia she struggled to even make the top ten, at home she never even looked back. Adelinah Lintanga initially kept the gap much smaller than usual in long ultras, which was promising as she tends to be more prominent in the second half of races. Accompanied by the impressive Shally Yuson from Mindanao in the Philippines, Lintanga lost more and more time to James, however, as the day went on. After 76km, Yuson actually looked the stronger runner for second place until she also succumbed to heat fatigue and dozed off at a late aid station. She fell back to sixth place. Nevertheless, for her first competitive appearance outside of Philippines, Yuson proved her racing talent and can be expected to use her KAR experience to go for a high placing in the ATM Final, which after all is also shorter at 78km. Behind Adelinah Lintanga, it was then Sabah’s newcomer Dazeree Joannes who completed the female podium. Joannes had started modestly, but ran consistently all day to gradually move up the leaderboard. Great pacing! Especially, given that she kept Mary Joy Sumanda behind in the end. Sumanda, also running for the first time outside of Philippines, scored fourth and that was the best race result of the entire group who came to KAR.

The 60km medium distance category saw a great battle for victory between the ever-improving young Oswald Maikol and Wilsen Singgin. Initially, several others like Jemson Daikin, Vitus Daimi, Yasbie Ismail and Tivel Peter mingled with the front runners as well. Maikol put Singgin under pressure all the time, even dropped him a few times. But Singgin is a warrior who doesn’t ever give up when there’s a potential victory on the horizon. By km 42, Maikol again had a 2-minute gap on Singgin. He then probably lingered a bit too long in the aid station, so that Singgin again had a visual on him as he approached the same station. Indeed, Singgin wasted little time and did not let Maikol to get out his sight anymore. Ultimately, Singgin’s own attack just a few kilometres before the finish proved decisive. Maikol had given too much of himself earlier on, and could not respond. Great win by Wilsen Singgin. Yasbie Ismail completed the top three a long way behind , showing the high level Singgin and Maikol were competing at.

In contrast to the men, Shamiera Auther just seemed to cruise to victory in the women’s 60km - her second win of the ATM season. Leading from start to finish, only a bee sting brought her out of her comfort zone halfway in the race. The still very young Auther will be an interesting runner to watch in the ATM Final. Given her young age and inexperience going beyond 50-60km, Auther won’t have any pressure to perform … but she might as well create a surprise. And she is from Sabah, too.

Lolita Lintanga underlined the competitive progress she has made over the past months to score her first ever ATM race podium. Just like her elder sister Adelinah, Lolita finished second. That’s ahead of Lynda Marylyn in third.

KAR Ultra was part of the ATM Championship calendar for the first time and proved to be a great addition, highlighted by the fantastic arena setting , abundant aid stations, some interesting innovations and welcoming atmosphere. After TMBT and BUTM, Sabah has another trail event to look out for every year.

This weekend is the last points race event of the current championship season in Malaysia, the country hosting the big final in September. Kadamaian Ultra, also known as KAR Ultra, even takes place in the same State of Sabah on Borneo island and can therefore be considered as a real dress rehearsal for Borneo TMBT Ultra. Taking place out of Kota Belud, KAR also has a great competitive field in both the 110k and 60k categories led by ‘usual suspects’ Milton Amat, Wilsen Singgin, Adelinah Lintanga and Gustin Tiam. It is the first time the event features on our ATM Championship calendar after a successful Candidate Race edition in 2022.

Team Malaysia is one the most difficult teams to qualify for given the large number of regular and competitive runners in the country. It is therefore no surprise that this weekend will probably be very decisive. While a few runners can already rest on their laurels achieved this season, e.g. Adelinah Lintanga and Mohd Sulhan, Sabah’s top star Milton Amat, and also Gustin Tiam and Shamiera Auther, are gambling to qualify with just 3 ATM races. Given their usual performance level, that may work out well, but it remains tricky nonetheless. Runners such as Teck Shuin Chong, Hijazi Rija and Wont Kudin, Chong Mi Chin, tend to collect decent amounts of points over four races and therefore may sneak into Team Malaysia. At KAR Ultra, Milton Amat therefore better gets the victory. Wilsen Singgin is in a better position with three good races under his belt this season, and should qualify without any problems - as long as he finishes with an okay result.

The battle for points is also still going on in the Philippines. The Punisher 80k is still coming up on 10 August, but quite a few Filipinos are making the trip to KAR Ultra as well this weekend. Maynard Encormal is one who could give the established Sabahans a run for their money. Also in the women’s 110k race, Rejlen James and Adelinah Lintanga will face a challenge for the victory by in-form Shally Yuson and Mary Joy Sumanda, amongst others.

ATM will be reporting live from KAR Ultra, with the 110k and 60k races starting at 5:20 am and 5:30 am on Saturday.

Milton Amat is the logical top favourite at KAR Ultra 110k this weekend

Already 2 ATM race wins for Gustin Tiam this season!

Leading the women’s ATM ranking: Adelinah Lintanga

Shamiera Auther will be looking to add another 50k victory to her record

Shally Yuson has been one of the revelations of the current ATM season in the Philippines

Looking to qualify for Team Pilipinas again: Mary Joy Sumanda

Milton Amat continues his reign in his home state of Sabah. On Saturday, the local hero won BUTM 55km in 6:05:06 after catching and overtaking a fading Alessandro Sherpa around km 40. As often, the 2018 ATM Champion had started out fast and put distance between himself and the other competitors. Despite cloudy weather, the temperature and humidity were still very high and plenty of participants suffered from dehydration at some point during the day. Sherpa included. His pace dropped significantly and he even contemplated retiring from the race at aid station 4 while lying on the ground trying to take in sports drink. Both Milton Amat and the once again surprisingly fast Wilsen Singgin had just passed him at that point. After some time, Sherpa got back up and continued for the final 11km to the finish line. He still managed to score third on the podium, staying ahead of Yasbie Ismail by 13 minutes. Milton Amat took the victory, but it is a stretch to say he was just cruising home. It had clearly been a working day for Amat, and he also admitted as much. Wilsen Singgin had also kept the pressure on, actually running faster than Amat in some sections and finishing just ten minutes later. Are we going to see Wilsen Singgin finally exploiting all his talent this season? In the three months since the end of last season, Singgin has looked remarkably fresher and more competitive as already illustrated by his 50k win over Sefli Ahar in Brunei two weeks ago.

The women’s 50km was entirely dominated by the youngster Shamiera Auther. Leading from start to finish, Auther proved her competitive progress and maturity in taking her first ATM race victory ahead of experienced runners such as Kona Laiu , Vicki Zhu and the Lintanga sisters Lolita and Jessica. Auther even had an advantage at the finish of over 50 minutes! Jessica Lintanga, who still had the upper hand over Auther in TMBT half a year ago, ran together with her younger sister. It was the first time Lolita entered the top five of an ATM race.

The 105km ultra looked like a bird in the hand for local hero Daved Simpat. The obvious pre-race favourite also seemed very much at ease on the trails on Saturday morning, leading by quite a long margin over e.g. Oswald Maikol, Sulhan Mohd, Gustin Tiam and Vietnam’s Nguyen Van Chung. But in the afternoon drama unfolded as Simpat retired himself from the race at WS6, citing two spells of ‘fainting’ earlier on. Even Sabah’s own top runners are not immune for the heat and humidity! With Simpat out, suddenly a number of runners were looking at a potential prestigious victory. Another Sabah veteran, Gustin Tiam took control and opened up a gap towards Sulhan Mohd, a relative newcomer in the ultra scene who last year won UTOP 100 in Penang. By the last aid station, Tiam looked like he was safe to grab victory - his first ever in ATM at the age of 48. A fantastic performance, indeed! Sulhan Mohd ran an amazing final sector to reduce the gap to Tiam from nearly 30 minutes to 18 minutes at the finish. Did he leave it just a bit too late? Nevertheless, Sulhan looks like a solid new name in the Malaysian ultra scene. Sabah’s Oswald Maikol dropped back after a fast start and would settle for third place, just like in TMBT 100 last season. Maikol had to dig deep at the end because Wont Kudin ran a fantastic final few hours emerging into the top ten and finishing fourth eventually, ahead of Muhammad Hazim, Nguyen Van Chung, Haziq Asyraf and Atsushi Ito, for example.

The women’s 100km also had a bit of a thrilling conclusion. Pre-race favourite and last year’s winner Rejlen James was in control of the race from the start and built up a nice gap towards the other competitors. However, also she as a local began to suffer from the conditions and found it increasingly difficult to manage her fluid and food intake. James’ advantage was melting away and she had to stop several times feeling sick. A well-trained Adelinah Lintanga, in her best race since winning Penang Eco in 2019, came ever closer , but James held on by 13 minutes at the finish in the middle of the night. The rejuvinated Lintanga was pleased with her own return to form and second place, but also realised she had come close to a big win. Just like with Sulhan in the men’s, did she leave her ‘attack’ too late? This year’s BUTM 100 looks like a nice case study in ‘how to manage your efforts and the time gaps to your competitors’ . In third place, we found the still quite young Lynda Marylyn, who showed her ultra distance talent again. Last year, she already came 2nd in the Borneo Miler - also behind Rejlen James. The very experienced Celeste Teo took fourth, and Penang’s Pei Fen Goh fifth.

An important mental victory for Milton Amat with a view on what’s to come later this ATM season

The 100 km men’s podium with Gustin Tiam, Sulhan Mohd and Oswald Maikol

The 100 km women’s podium with Rejlen James, Adelinah Lintanga and Lynda Marylyn

Shamiera Auther: first victory in ATM for the Malaysian youngster