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

On Sunday at 5 o’clock in the morning, the only ATM points race in Thailand this season will start in the hometown of Jay Jantaraboon. Pointing to his involvement, the event’s name is quite simply called “My Home Trail”. Approximately 2-3 hours from Chiang Mai, ATM points seekers will undertake a tough 50km with over 2600 metres of elevation gain. It’s the first time the event, organised by Nongkwaitong Co., Ltd, is part of the Asia Trail Master Championship calendar.

Long sold out already, My Home Trail’s "“Unknown 50 category” features several well-known competitive runners, some of whom we haven’t seen since covid. Take Paul Dunn, for instance. The Englishman was the big winner of UTKC 100 just before the pandemic struck (with beside him on the podium the late Fredelyn Alberto as female race winner that day). Dunn had the better of none other than Arnie Macaneras and Hisashi KItamura in that race! Five years later, it will be interesting to see if Dunn has retained that kind of performance level. One of his main competitors for the victory is likely to be Danon Rattanatumrong, winner of Luang Prabang Trail 100 early in the season. With another good result this weekend, Danon can in any case score his ticket for the ATM Championship Final in Vietnam on 4 October. Another top contender , and also returning for the first time since 2019 , is Sukrit Kaewyoun. Back then, he was a regular race protagonist who kept on improving as the ATM season developed. Let’s find out how he fares these days. And last but not least in this list is Job Tanapong! The young top talent, who burst onto the scene in 2019 with race wins at Moon 100 and Ijen Trailrunning 100, is also on the start list this weekend!

The women’s race has Nisachon Morgan in it, she won the ATM race Trail of Man 55km in 2023. Ella Wildenberg is familiar with the Chiang Mai area, and Filipino Julie Mae Marquez could as well spring a surprise like she did in Mount Kalatungan Ultra this season with a great second place that day. The women’s race may in any case surprise us with many new names on the list.

Paul Dunn returns to the scene five years after winning UTKC 100, alongside the late Fredelyn Alberto

In 2019, Job Tanapong won Moon 100 - and next to him as female winner: Fredelyn Alberto, once more

Bislig Ultra Trail in Surigao del Sur, north of Davao, this year offers a Grandmaster Quest point to all finishers of the 80km course on 11/12 October. The event, a Candidate Race last year, is organised by the AWRA Team, which also brings you the New Corella Trail Ultra in December.

As the official event tagline reads: “the race routes designed to challenge and inspire you amidst the stunning natural beauty of Bislig. You are about to embark on a journey that showcases the very best of our region’s landscapes and wildlife.” The highlight is the magnificent Tinuy-an Falls, often called the "Niagara Falls” of the Philippines.

In addition, there is the sanctuary of the Philippine Eagle, one of the world's rarest and most majestic birds. The presence of such unique wildlife adds a special dimension to your run, making it not only a test of endurance but also a celebration of Bislig’s natural heritage.

The 80km course is an extension of last year’s 50km. It is a challenging and exhilarating course that showcases the region's diverse terrain, including barangay roads, scenic trails, waterfalls, river crossings, and ridgelines. Last year, the excellent service and volunteer support gave participants a memorable trail experience. The men’s 50k race was won by pre-race favourite Jhon Mahinay and the women’s race went to Lory Gacusan in 10h28.

Bislig is located 200km north of Davao City in Surigao del Sur Province. Davao is your main airport for those who need to fly in. It’s certainly listed among the ‘new destinations’ for trail runners.

The official facebook page has all details and can be accessed via the button below.

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.

Today we have the utmost pleasure to announce a NEW GOLDEN 4-STAR GRANDMASTER: Munintaran Sundram! The Malaysian runner from Taiping has achieved a truly remarkable performance, both in terms of speed and diversity of races. Munin had become a 3-star Silver Grandmaster just last January after Vietnam Trail Marathon 70 in Moc Chau, and proceeded straightaway to reach 20 ultra race finishes by the first weekend of May. He ran the 9 Dragons 50 Miles in Hong Kong, Vietnam Ultra Marathon 75, Lantau 70 back in Hong Kong, followed by the Filipino Luzon duo of Sierra Madre Trail Ultra 75 and Hardcore 50 Miles, part of PMTF. He is the first Malaysian Golden Grandmaster, and the fifth overall. It took Munin 3,5 years to complete the Grandmaster Quest, having started at his home event, MMTF, at the end of 2021. “The Grandmaster Quest is a good avenue for many races to garner runners to join as not all can fight for championship points. A great means to motivate runners,” said Munintaran Sundram, who will be celebrated at the upcoming Malaysian events in ATM. Huge congrats and a big round of applause for new Golden Grandmaster Munintaran Sundram!

His record:

• 1. MMTF 2021

• 2. CULTRA 2022

• 3. VMM 2022

• 4. TMBT 2022

• 5. Penang UTOP 2022

• 6. Dalat Ultra Trail 2023

• 7. Malnad Ultra 2023

• 8. BUTM 2024

• 9. Cuc Phuong Jungle Paths 2024

• 10. Silabur 100 2024

• 11. KAR Ultra 2024

• 12. AKHA Trail 2024

• 13. Mt Apo Sky Race 2024

• 14. Prenn Trail Summit 2024

• 15. VTM 2025

• 16. 9 Dragons 2025

• 17. VUM 2025

• 18. Lantau 70 2025

• 19. Sierra Madre Trail Ultra 2025

• 20. PMTF 2025.

We are happy to announce a new entry in Hong Kong for Season 11 of the Asia Trail Master Championship series : Ultra Fish’n Sheep joins the ATM Championship and Grandmaster Quest calendar with its event scheduled for Saturday, 25 October 2025. It will be the 5th edition of the popular Ultra Fish’n Sheep, but the first time it will feature a 75km long course, which will be run during daytime from Fan Lin in the north of the New Territories to the finish at the YMCA Junk Bay Youth Camp. It’s a typical Hong Kong trail course, which means a decent amount of elevation gain as well. The 75km is estimated to have over 4300 metres of elevation gain. The start is at 8am and the cut off time at the finish is 2 am on Sunday morning, i.e. maximum 18 hours.

Joining The 9 Dragons and Lantau 70 in the early part of each year, Ultra Fish n Sheep will thus be the third Hong Kong points race in Season 11 of the ATM Championship, which begins the week before in Laos with Luang Prabang Ultra Trail on 18/19 October. Hong Kong continues to have a vibrant trail running scene, in which this event has managed to secure a solid footing over the past four years. Ultra Fish n Sheep is organised by Sky Sportage.

Registration is open and it is recommended to sign up early. Apart from the 75km there are other distance categories, but note that only the 75km provides ATM points. On the official website linked below you can also download the GPX file of the race course. Remember, just like 9 Dragons in February, this is a race from A to B. Luggage can be transported by the event crew from the starting point to the finish point at the YMCA Junk Bay Youth Camp.

The 6th edition of the high altitude mountain trail race between Jumla and Rara in remote Western Nepal saw the absolute confirmation of Kolpana Budha’s trail running talent. The local teenager, just 17, won the women’s 50k race with a remarkable advantage over another young talent, Rayja Laxmi Rawal, and is set for this year’s ATM Championship Final in Vietnam on 4 October. Previously this season, Kolpana Budha had already finished second behind reigning champion and compatriot Priya Rai at the MTR 50k race in March, and last November in India, she also took the victory in Malnad 30km (not an ATM points race, but still). Rawal took second place, and after winning Malnad 50 and third in MTR 50 she is the points leader in the Nepalese ATM ranking. At this stage of the season, she can also look forward to the ATM Final. Most likely so can Sandipa Budha, because after a fourth place in mTR 50, she now took the third spot on the podium in JRU. All three runners are coached by Karnali Sports in Jumla. Quite an astonishing group of runners they have there, and that also includes many men.

Dal Bdr Kunwar was the clear winner of the men’s race in 5h53. He was followed by Hom Lai Shrestha, already fourth in MTR two months ago. Chandra Rawat was third on the podium.

Jumla and Rara is the area where many of the country’s finest mountain runners come from and it once again showed during the race, held in good conditions this spring. It is a very remote area and mobile connectivity is very limited, hence the delay in the race report.

Men:

1. Dal Bdr Kunwar (5124) 05:53:57 Karnali Sports Club

2. Hom Lal Shrestha (5122) 06:07:55 Nepal Army

3. Chandra Rawat (5127) 06:19:28 Karnali Sports Club

4. Sher Bdr Budha (5128) 06:3:42 Karnali Sports Club

5. Dhira Bdr Rawat (5123) 06:42:08 Karnali Sports Club

Women:

1. Kalpana Budha (5125) 07:51:25 Karnali Sports Club

2. Rajya Laxmi Rawal (5126) 08:28:41 Karnali Sports Club

3. Sandipa Budha (5130) 08:46:03 Karnali Sports Club

4. Ummakali Budha (5108) 10:04:18 Karnali Sports Club

5 Anisha Gurung (5135) 11:07:08 Kathmandu

We are glad to announce that the first edition of Mulu Ultra Trail in Sarawak, Malaysia, has obtained the ATM Candidate Race label. The new event is organised by Evendura Enterprise and is scheduled for Saturday, 14 June. Gunung Mulu National Park is one of the highlights of any adventure travellers’ itinerary on Borneo Island and a UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for its incredible biodiversity, stunning landscapes, and intricate cave system.

Mulu Ultra Trail is offering three distance categories for the inaugural edition. The longest is 50km, but runners can also opt for the 21km and 10km. Start and finish is at St Edward’s Hall, a key local landmark and gathering point for the local trail running community. The course features a rich blend of challenging terrain including dense jungles, river crossings, and steep climbs. Participants will experience the raw beauty and biodiversity of Borneo’s rainforest, far from urban distractions. The 50km starst at 5am and has an estimated elevation gain of nearly 1800 hm. The shorter distances have 662hm and 262hm, respectively.

The organisers have great ambitions to establish Mulu now also as one of the region’s marquee trail running destinations. It’s a sublime mountain jungle area, with lots of cultural history and customs. It’s indeed deep into Borneo. Sarawak’s northern neighbour state Sabah has attracted trail runners’ attention for well over a decade now , but after the covid period it is clear that Sarawak is playing catch up. Since last year, we have had Silabur Ultra Trail on the ATM Championship and Grandmaster calendars, an event relatively close to Kuching in the south, while Mulu Ultra Trail is close to Miri in the north of Sarawak, and close to the border with Brunei as well. A big bonus point: there is a domestic airport in Mulu, too.

Evendura Enterprise also puts a lot of emphasis on environmental conservation awareness and collaborates with the Sarawak Forestry and other relevant agencies to ensure a minimal impact of the ecosystem. At the same time, Mulu Ultra Trail also wishes to boost the local economy and empower the communities. The event wishes to serve as a platform for sports tourism, fitness and mental wellness in pure nature.

Registration and all race details can be found on the official event website linked below.

The 4th edition of Lam Dong Trail in Dalat, Vietnam, has been scheduled for 8/9 November and will once again feature a 85km points race for the Asia Trail Master Championship ranking and the Grandmaster Quest. As such, it will be one of the first events in Season 11 , which will be launched on 18 October in Laos with the Luang Prabang Ultra Trail.

The past three editions of Lam Dong Trail have seen many of Vietnam’s top runners take part, including Hau Ha, Quang Tran, Julia Nguyen Thi Duong, Loi Luong and so on. The main race is characterised by its quite runable character, as most races in the Dalat area are. Nevertheless, with over 4000 metres of elevation gain this is by no means an easy flat run in the park. The event centre is again at the Valley of Love, which is located just 4 km outside of Dalat City. There’s accommodation available around the venue, but it is certainly also possible to just stay in the city. The start is at 3 am , implying a few hours of darkness and rather chilly temperatures before sunrise. The course goes through several sublime pine forests and across numerous hills. The cut off time is 21 hours , which means midnight on Saturday night.

For those who have never been to Dalat, the city is located in the Central Highlands in the Southwest of Vietnam. It lies at an altitude of approx 1500m above sea level, which means it is one of those areas that can have all four seasons in one single day. Dalat has a domestic airport, but you can also go there on road from Ho Chi Minh City.

Registration for Lam Dong Trail has already opened. Just go to the official website, which is also in Englsh, and make sure you also look at the list of mandatory gear. GPX files of the route will also be available for download.

Running back in time

We are happy to announce that the 3rd edition of Camiguin Island Trail race, scheduled for the weekend of 12 July, has entered the ATM Grandmaster Quest calendar. Organised by Vertical To Sky under Doi Calbes, this event has been growing rapidly in popularity and for the first time will feature a 70km race category - long enough to offer a Grandmaster point to finishers.

Camiguin is an island in the Bohol Sea, approximately 10km off the northern coast of Mindanao in the Philippines. The trail event is held out of the island’s and provincial capital Mambajao. The island has some lush green forest reserves, even protected under the ASEAN Heritage Park label. Camiguin also has a rich cultural history and treasures, such as Old Mambajao Fountain and the façade of the Santo Rosario Church in Sagay. This is a mountainous island, which offers the opportunity for some splendid trail running, including some technical mountain sections. The highest peak is Mount Timpoong, which towers a respectable 1500 metres above sea level.

The event has already opened for registration and in no time secured 650 entries. Contrary to other Vertical To Sky events, this one does not have a limited participation quota. However, better sign up fast to also secure your personal desired accommodation. The course map of 70km is currently being updated and will be released in due course. Via the official facebook page you can stay up-to-date on the latest developments regarding Camiguin Island Trail.

To register, Doi likes to keep it simple. Just send him an email on verticaltosky@gmail.com with your usual event registration details, and his team will come back to you within 48 hours.

Last weekend’s successful BTR Ultra event in Bali, Indonesia, saw the first ever ATM points race victory for upcoming long ultra talent Roberto Cain III (The Third). The Filipino was dominant in the tough 105km ultra across Bali’s three famous mountains Batur, Agung and Abang. He was already first on the summit of Batur before sunset on Friday evening, and kept his advantage throughout the night. In the early hours of Saturday morning, Cain III even still increased the gap to his nearest competitors underlining his superiority. Pre-race favourites like Arief Wismoyono never featured at the very front and later would even DNF. Earlier this ATM season, Roberto Cain III had already taken 2nd in Mount Kalatungan Ultra and 4th in Sierra Madre Trail Ultra. Good results, but this Bali victory really means a step up for him - particularly as it’s not even at home in Philippines. His finish time was 17h52, which proved the hard nature of this 100k and 7200hm course. In fact, runners were even lucky it was cloudy and not that hot for most of the event, set by the Batur Lake.

Almost an hour behind Cain III, Wai Hung Mok from Hong Kong grabbed second in his ATM debut. He was running most of the race with Java’s Akhmad Nizar, but had the edge in the final ten kilometres. Nizar somehow has a subscription on third places in ATM races. Nevertheless, it was third achievement of the current season and he is basically already guaranteed of qualification for Team Indonesia in the ATM Championship Final in Vietnam on 4 October. In 2023, Nizar finished 8th in the Final. Behind Wai Hung Mok and Akhmad Nizar, it was Malaysia’s Yih Huan Sua , always good in Indonesia, with Philippines’ Maynard Encormal, having a superb performance just a week after taking a 3rd podium spot in the Mt Ugo Marathon. Yusuf Aprian made a nice comeback to the scene after a long injury break with sixth place. He was followed by Egypt’s well-known Ahmed Bedair, who had made a fast start with Cain III on Batur.

The women’s 100km ultra was dominated by Hong Kong’s Man Yee Cheung. Just two weeks after her miler on Fuji in Japan, the tall Hong Kong star seemed pretty well recovered and was a class on her own in Bali. She took her victory, her second in ATM after VMM 100 in 2023, as fifth overall in 21h13. Earlier this year she also finished second in the 9 Dragons. With a total of 950 ATM Championship points in two races, she might have already done enough to qualify for the Championship Final in Vietnam this season.

Behind her, it was a fantastic second place for Thailand’s Siriporn Leumathong. She was almost the entire race in second and held off a long list of other regular ATM race podium contenders. Last season, she was a surprising 9th in the ATM Championship Final at Borneo TMBT. Indonesia’s Devi Devi claimed the third step on the podium. Earlier on Saturday morning, Ruth Theresia - who was on podium course - stepped out of the race with severe stomach cramps. Another pre-race favourite, Adelinah Lintanga, had a tough day but managed to get some ATM points for 8th place. Singapore’s Wei Xinshuang finished fourth and Malayia’s Law Guan Shin fifth. Then it was Japan’s Yasuyo Hotta followed by Anne Maridol (Philippines), Risa Kamiya (Japan), Adelinah Lintanga(Malaysia) and Nia Septiana. Syarifah Hamzah, who was 4th in Penang just two weeks ago, dropped down to 11th place in the last part of the race.

In the BTR 60k race, Hong Kong-based Dutchman Lodewijk Vriens scored his first ATM race win of the season in 8h37. Vriens was challenged initially by the newcomer from Ambon in the Moluccas, Haidar Ali Lestaluhu, but then took the advantage in the black lava field. After 4th in VUM in March, a good win for Vriens - one of the potential dark horses for the Championship this season.

He was followed by several of Indonesia’s ‘new generation’ runners. In second place was Sobari Herdiana, a good 20 minutes behind Vriens. Third on the podium, Ujang Ahmad Ahmad and Sobiri Haerudin took fourth place. Bali-based German Thimo Kilberth, now 50, was a fantastic fifth after a brilliant second half of the race. Kilberth showed once more what focus and dedication to a goal can do. His fourth successive qualification for the Championship Final is nearly a given already. Abdul Aziz Dermawan was seventh, ahead of Agus Juprit and Luis Alvelais - also on a good day. Malachy Kirwan was a DNS and Taofik Hidayat had a rough day to finish in 14th.

In the women’s, Singapore-based Belgian Vanja Cnops took her 9th ATM race win and 2nd of the season, but only just so! Indonesian newcomer in ATM, Gita Harmoni, came closer and closer and stranded just 1’40” behind Cnops, the vice-ATM Champion of the past two years. What an introduction to Gita Harmoni, who is from Yogyakarta in Indonesia. Vanja Cnops required no less than 10h38 to win this 60k race across Batur and Abang, which was her longest race ever - yes, read that again. For Gita it was a step up in competition level after starting trail running in 2022.

France’s Manon Bourdoge was a happy third. she was followed in the finish by New Zealand’s Charlotte van der Lee, who managed to get ahead of Malaysia’s Shamiera Auther in the final 8 km. Lolita Lintanga and an injured Ritzy Amor were next. Ritzy retakes the overall ATM points lead from her Filipino compatriot Angelie Cabalo. Local Dian Pradina was eighth and Halimatun Sa’adiah ninth.

The next Indonesian points race event in the ATM Championship series is Mantra 116 on the first weekend of July. Later in early September, there’s also still the Ijen Mountain Marathon.

Runner in the black lava of Batur

Thimo Kilberth: fantastic fifth place on the 60

Newcomer in ATM: Gita Harmoni

A doubleheader weekend in ATM before a month’s break, as we are ending a very busy event period that began in early January. Jumla Rara Ultra takes place in remote western Nepal , and in Indonesia we have one of the country’s flagship trail events: BTR Ultra on the island of Bali. BTR has returned to the ATM calendar for the first time since 2022 and is de facto replacing Bali Ultra this season, the other event that has been postponed from August to a later date to be announced soon and in any case will be outside the framework of our current Championship season. Long-term followers of ATM know that BTR today is not the same as BTR 2022: the Mount Batur volcano is still the highlight, but the main race categories are now fully matured. Runners will embark on 60k and even a 100k journey, both distances offering ATM Championship points for the Top 25 in the race results. 100k finishers also collect a Grandmaster point. The question, though: how many finishers will be there on the 100k?

The 100k starts on Friday afternoon at 4 pm and is, in fact, 106km long for well over 7200 metres of elevation gain. Given the climatic conditions of Bali, this is what many would indeed call ‘brutal’, and in any case a serious test of physical and mental strength. With that in mind, it is both remarkable and admirable that Indonesia’s female trail star and 2018 ATM Champion Ruth Theresia has chosen BTR 100 as her 20th long ultra in ATM, or in other words, the race that may crown her as a 4-star Golden Grandmaster!

Ruth Theresia is still among the favourites to win the women’s race as well, of course. Not competing as often as she did pre-corona, the Bandung runner has been opting for a more balanced approach to trail running with more shorter distance races following some injuries and ailments. But when she starts a race, she is never far from victory as shown this season again at Tahura Trail, where she came second behind Vanja Cnops. BTR 100 is hardly comparable and Ruth will be using her experience and thinking back on her numerous successes in gruelling races of the past to push her forward. Especially in the last hours of the race during the daytime heat on Saturday, when many participants are expected to get a knock of the hammer.

Plenty of other contenders for victory in the women’s 100km, by the way. Other local Indonesian runners such as Septiana Nia Swastika, Sandra Cianti and Yustina Wardhani have all earned kudos in these type of races over the years. Mostly out of the region’s and ATM’s spotlights, however, as Indonesian trail runners have not been competing a lot in the region since corona. Several international runners can eye victory as well this weekend. Starting perhaps with Man Yee Cheung from Hong Kong, second in the 9 Dragons this year already. Two weeks ago, however, Man Yee won the 100 Miler on Fuji in Japan and so it remains to be seen how fresh and recovered she is from that. Japan’s Risa Kamiya won Prenn Trail Summit 180km in Dalat last December. Thailand’s Siriporn Leumathong always performs well when it gets long and tough. Ninth in the ATM Final 2024, let’s not forget. One of those trail runners who suddenly seems to find an extra gear when motivated to compete. From Philippines, Anna Rongavilla could pull of a surprise and why not one of the many Malaysians in the race? Genre 2-star Grandmaster Adelinah Lintanga or Guan Shin Law? Lintanga has scored nice victories in 100 milers before in tropical climate, and coming from Sabah she won’t be that disturbed by it. The dark horse comes from China, although based in Singapore: Xinshuang Wei.

The men’s 100km will see many of the usual Indonesian long ultra specialists square off, with 2015 ATM Champion and 2-star Grandmaster Arief Wismoyono still labeled as the man-to-beat on this type of terrain and distance. Now 40, Wismoyono can still set a surprising pace as he showed in Tahura Trail in January, finishing not far behind winner Alessandro Sherpa. While Risqi Kurniawan -absent this weekend - kind of claimed the title of ‘fastest Indonesian’ on the medium distance, Wismoyono remains the benchmark on the long ones. Up to younger contenders such as Akhmad Nizar, Dedy Yusuf, Hilman Maulana and Yusuf Aprian to make a statement this weekend. Of those, Nizar is arguably the one with the most experience running against international competitors. He also finished 8th in the 2023 ATM Final. This season he has already banked 825 ATM points and is looking good for a new qualification into Team Indonesia for this year’s Championship Final in Vietnam on 4 October. Incidentally, Arief Wismoyono can also collect his wild card as former champion this weekend, provided he finishes the race.

As in the women’s, there is a big Malaysian contingent to challenge the Indonesians in Bali. Many Grandmasters who can surprise on any given day, plus proven podium runners such as Yih Huan Sua. Also the Filipinos throw some tough irons in the fire. Roberto Cain III, for example. Or Maynard Encormal, who still finished 3rd at Mt Ugo Marathon last weekend.

Looking at the 60k , there are perhaps two more clearer favourites for the race win in the men’s and women’s competition: Lodewijk Vriens, from the Netherlands but based in Hong Kong, and the aforementioned Vanja Cnops, from Belgium but residing in Singapore and winner of BTR 30k in 2022. Whoever wants to win the 60k this Saturday will need to pass them. Vriens is also not unknown in ATM. He won the first stage of 9 Dragons 50/.50 last year, and this season he finished 4th in Vietnam Ultra Marathon 70. Reportedly motivated to qualify for the ATM Final this season, Vriens is hoping for a good showing in Bali. It’s a very long start list so runners may fly under the radar, but potential competitors for Vriens are Indonesians Taofik Hidayat, Sobiri Haerudin, Sobari Herdiana and Nizar Surydratama. Plus, Singapore-based Irishman Malachy Kirwan, Hong Kong-based Mexican Luis Alvelais and last-but-not-least Vietnam’s Nhon Trong. The latter used to be a 50k specialist before focusing on the long trail distances, but has recently again been trying to find back his old speed. Nhon is prone to ‘overheating’ , though, as we also saw in Penang two weeks ago.

Vanja Cnops has returned to Asia from the European Marathon Championships in Belgium, where she finished a respectable 25th place in 2h52. If her recovery went as planned, she could very well be flying this Saturday. For Cnops it would be her 9th ATM race win in a journey that also placed her on the ATM Championship podium three consecutive times (3rd in 2022, 2nd in 2023 and 2024). Scoring a win or a good result may provide her with enough points already to give it another go in Vietnam in October. Her expected rivals for the victory on Saturday are Philippines’ Ritzy Amor, Malaysia’s Shamiera Auther and Indonesia’s Henny Sutanda.

Ruth Theresia going for her 4th Golden Grandmaster star, plus a wild card for the ATM Championship 2025

Ritzy Amor : one of the new stars on the women’s scene

Vanja Cnops can already score her 9th ATM race win this Saturday on the 60k

Henny Sutanda: winner at Mantra last year.

2015 ATM Champion Arief Wismoyono still going strong at home in Indonesia

Lodewijk Vriens: the one-to-beat on the 60k?