What was still a 100 miles category at BUTM in 2020 is now a stand-alone event: the Borneo Miler will see 146 registered athletes attempt to complete a trail running adventure in and around Kota Belud in Sabah, Malaysia. Without some of the State’s and the country’s biggest trail stars like Milton Amat and Wilsen Singgin, as they are in Austria to give it a go at the World Championships next week. This implies the Borneo Miler is wide open from a competitive point of view, and for several participants it will in fact be their very first ‘miler’ experience.

Among those is Amir Zaki, a great fourth only just behind Mohamed Affindi two weeks in Koboi Malaya. Zaki has planned his inaugural 100 miles meticulously, and if he can manage his efforts during the long race may be a top contender for sure. Zaki’s ‘teammate’ at Sportlicious Malaysia and Team Crampfix Jeffery Budin is another one who is likely to be in the mix, even though he seems to be downplaying his own chances. Budin won UToP last October and had a similarly great race at the ATM Championship Final on Mount Apo. Bernardo Linus is capable of a surprise, being a local Sabahan. Another local is Gustin Tiam, definitely not to be excluded from the long list of potential winners in the men’s race. Amierul Amin Shamsul Kamal (5th in Koboi!), Ahmad Tanjong and Dzul Izwan Siri Ee (6th in Koboi!) will also attract attention. And so are Brunei’s Ibni Nudin - second his home country’s ATM candidate race Simpur Ultra last February, and Australia’s Andrew Farmers - one of the Finalists on Mt Apo last December. Farmers knows the Borneo trails very well. Last year he scored 6th and 10th in BUTM and TMBT respectively.

The women’s race may have a couple of runners who arguably have one star more than others in the list of contenders. Rejlen James was a superb winner of BUTM 100 last March - ahead of Sally Yap! - and is a local. The one who can follow her will be close to the victory on Sunday. Manila’s Ann Jilian Pulanco, fresh from her very first ATM race win at Sierra Madre a month ago, is an ultra specialist and may be James’ biggest challenger. But there’s also Paulina Svoboda - fast and strong when in form -, Adelinah Lintanga - who appears keen for this race -, Irish Gloriso - who may take the ATM points lead again this weekend with her 4th race of the season already -, Siriporn Leumathong from Thailand and - according to some - a local dark horse from the Lintanga sisters’ Team Kolumpa: Butet Lynda Marylyn.

We will be following the Borneo MIler from start to finish. A live broadcast of the 6am start on Saturday and the finish of the winners, with multimedia updates throughout the two days on our usual ATM channels. The Borneo Miler also have live GPS tracking of the lead runners on https://live.asiatrailmaster.com/borneo100miler2023/

follow the top runners live by gps

Open races expected at The Borneo Miler in Sabah