PMTF/H1: Another race win for Kik Suello and Angelie Cabalo

Kik Suello and Angelie Cabalo were the top stars of last weekend’s classic Filipino trail race H1 in Nueva Vizcaya, Luzon. Both runners from the Kogi Athletics team emerged victorious for the second time in three weeks, having also just won Sierra Madre Trail Ultra 75. While Angelie Cabalo proved that she was indeed the big favourite in the women’s 100 miler, Kik Suello had a hard time fending off his surprisingly strong teammate Jomarc Ferrer, who himself is enjoying the best competitive season of his trail running journey. Suello used his pure running pace to get the advantage, but Ferrer’s technical ability and stamina brought him back in victory contention deep into the race. Ferrer even seemed to be taking the upper hand by km 143, but Suello - who perhaps needed a wake-up call - dug deep and managed to drop Ferrer again in the final section of the race. Suello finished in 30h33, six minutes ahead of Ferrer. Although they are teammates, both recognised the significance of H1 as a classic race in Philippines and beyond and so battled each other for victory to the delight of all the trail fans following the proceedings on social media. No surprise therefore that H1 was the most followed and viewed ATM race of the season, behind the Season 10 Championship Final in Hong Kong two months ago. Clearly, competition between the best runners remains a major drawcard to boost the sport’s recognition. Suello and Ferrer deserve a round of applause for that alone already!

Behind the duo, Ligorinson Abbugao did a fantastic effort himself to come in third in 31h24, i.e. within an hour of the two protagonists. Abbugao is quite unknown on the ATM circuit, so he certainly left his name card on the table! Ronnel Valero and Rowein Diokno were fourth and fifth, before the women’s race winner Angelie Cabalo. Cabalo came in more or less together with Bukidnon’s well-known Yoyong Sacayle, himself a race winner and multiple podium placer in ATM just a couple of years ago.

As expected, Cabalo was in a league of her own although the question remained whether she could keep it going for 100 miles. The answer was a firm ‘yes’. Coming in in a time of 37h05, she took another win on the ATM circuit and is finding herself in a good position for qualification for the ATM Championship Final in Vietnam on 3 October. The same applies for second-place Kimberly Flores, already a double race winner this season, and who was a late addition to the start list. The youngster also made her debut on the miler distance. Flores was smart and did not attempt to keep pace with Caballo, and focused on making it through. She did it in style in 39h55, and ahead of very established long ultra specialists Mia Revilla - winner of BUTM 100 last month - and Ann Jilian Pulanco.

When multiple distance categories are on offer at an event, there’s usually also a medium distance race labelled as an ATM Championship qualifier. The H60K race replaced the Mt Ugo Marathon from last year on the programme of PMTF, but interestingly had fewer starters than the 100 miler. It’s a tough 60K course that eventually saw Ahmeer Francis Raza take the win in 12h40. That was 19 minutes faster than the first female, who came second overall, LJ Benitez! A remarkable performance once again by Benitez, who seems to have a subscription on second places in ATM promoted races. Surely, a first victory is just behind the corner, though. Clarisse Yeung was third overall and second female, also for her another strong result this season. Lloyd Magundayao and Crosby Quilino were second and third on the men’s podium, while Irene Buyuccan completed the women’s top 3.

With the unfortunate cancellation of Point Trail Ultra, the next Filipino ATM Championship Qualifier will be MUSPO 100.