Borneo Ultra Trail Marathon, in short BUTM, is really no longer the “little sister” of TMBT later in the year. Organised by the same team at Borneo Ultra, BUTM is a wonderful event in itself taking place in a different part of Sabah, in and around Kiulu. The start list for this year’s edition again features a lot of names and also a lot of star athletes from Malaysia mixed with a solid number of international runners. As usual, both the 100km long ultra and the 50km medium distance offer points for the ATM Championship ranking. Interestingly, both Milton Amat and Wilsen Singgin are again opting for the 50km. The numbers 1 and 2 from last year will even see Daved Simpat with them in the race, which does not happen very often. After a few years plagued by injuries and other issues, Daved Simpat - sometimes nicknamed “The Original” for being the first Sabahan trail runner to really break through in the Asian region - , has been performing really well again in recent races. It is not very often that they are three in the same race, so we are looking forward to see how that battle unfolds this Saturday.

Other expected podium contenders are Ahmad Tanjong, Amirul Tuah from Brunei and certainly several local and new Sabahan runners, too.

Staying with the 50km, the women’s race will see last year’s winner Shamiera Auther returning for what will also be her first ATM race of Season 10. Jess and Lolita Lintanga are also again in the race, but the battle for podium is likely to include at least two Filipino runners, too. Aggy Sabanal has made the trip to Malaysia for what could be one of her last appearances for a while. Sabanal was 2nd in the 2018 ATM Championship behind Ruth Theresia. Since then, she has become a mother and selective in the number of races, but when she takes part it’s always for the prizes. Ritzy Amor is also on the 50km. ATM overall points leader at the moment following her 3rd place in Broder 50 and 4th in VTM 70 earlier this season. Ritzy Amor is a multisport athlete, however, and has just come out of the boxing ring. A martial arts adept, Amor had her first boxing fight just a week ago. One could imagine that her body is still in recovery mode this weekend.

Moving to the 100km race category, which obviously is also a Grandmaster category, we will see last year’s winner Gustin Tiam also returning to Kiulu. He was brilliant back then, but this weekend he may face some stern competition for the victory by up-and-comers such as Haziq Asyraf and Yasbie Ismail, and also MIndanao’s Kik Suello - the number 7 of last year’s ATM Championship Final at Borneo TMBT! Suello was excellent in that race - as was Asyraf, in fact - and it will be great to see how they perform now five months later. Moo Sat and Bernardo Linus are other potential podium candidates on a good day.

The women’s 100km is likely to see a repeat of last year’s race, with the entire podium back in it. Rejlen James, Adelinah Lintanga and Lynda Marylyn. Let’s see if Lintanga and Marylyn have found a strategy to get closer to James, or even get ahead of her. Rejlen James has been nearly unbeatable on home soil since 2023, but had an unfortunate off-day at TMBT and the ATM Final last September.

ATM will be reporting live from the RPC on Friday, and then from start to finish on Saturday on the usual channels.

BUTM: The Sabahan Trio dance together in Kiulu