Jember Hills Classic with Shindy, Ruth & Thimo

This Sunday we have the third and potentially last Indonesian points race of the 2022 ATM season in East Java. The Jember Hills Classic is new on the trail calendar and is produced by the crew of Ijen Trail, an event that is unlikely to take place this year as the region is still recovering from the covid crisis. Jember Hills is part of a bigger running festival that also features a road marathon, half marathon and 10k fun run. The trail race is 70km in length , has 9 bukits or hills for a total elevation gain of just over 3000 hm.

With the high likelihood of Ijen Trail’s cancellation, and Tahura Trail not being scheduled for this year at all, there may indeed be only three ATM Championship points races in Indonesia this season. A good occasion therefore for the Indonesian runners to boost their ATM points total with a view to qualification for the ATM Championship Final in Davao on 17 December. One runner who has his eyes firmly set on just that is Bali-based Thimo Kilberth. A busy runner with lots of races under his belt, but one who plans and prepares his targets carefully. Kilberth will be one of the men to watch this Sunday, alongside Nizar. In the women’s, we may be looking at the first ATM dual in a long time between in-form Shindy Patricia and 2018 ATM Champion Ruth Theresia, who has returned to high level trail racing. Shindy can do a good job for her ATM Final qualification this weekend, and as a former champion Ruth just needs to secure two ATM race finishes this season.

After a difficult period during the covid crisis, Ruth Theresia has returned to competitive level this summer