A new mountain trail in Thailand this weekend by the established event organiser teelakow along the border with Myanmar. There’s quite a bit of mystery hanging over the race courses, but one thing seems certain: it will be tough. The 80km is the category that matters for ATM Championship and Grandmaster points, and on the start list we find none other than John Ray Onifa, just two weeks after his splendid victory in MUSPO 100.

Akha Trail stems from the people inhabiting the mountain region, an ethnic group spread out over mountain areas in Thailand, Myanmar, Yunnan (China) and Laos. The Akha people are quite well-known on the tourist trail for their colourful and distinctive traditional customes. Their home terrain here in Thailand , where the event takes place, is spectactular mountainous jungle with a number of caves in the mix as well. Runners will face a challenge, especially on the long distance of 80km with over 5500 hm. The course goes up and down, although there’s one long uphill climb, too, that follows a long descent to the second checkpoint at km 14. The last 20 km will be a test of strength, for sure.

John Ray Onifa, Filipino but highly familiar with the Thai trails, will logically be the one to beat. Despite only a fortnight since MUSPO, he says he also feels good as he didn’t go full throttle in Bukidnon. Potential challengers are podium contenders Miklos Viczena, in-form Narin Kongsiri and Thosaeng Kunno, the surprising young winner of Trail of Man in Chiang Mai six weeks ago. For Kunno this race will be a step into the unknown - his first long distance trail,and a technical one. The Chiang Mai resident is keen to learn fast, though, as he enjoys competing against the best. The Thai trail community vibe also suggests there’s quite a lot of as yet unknown talent on the start list.

In the women’s race, Thailand’s Issaree Kengnok will be trying to score her 3rd ATM race victory and her first since 2017. Her last ATM performance was 2nd in UTCR 125km in 2020. 

We will be reporting live from the start at 14:00 local time on Saturday on our usual channels (ATM Facebook, YouTube, Twitter) with further multimedia updates also on ATM Instagram. 

 

After last weekend’s ATM ‘blockbuster’ weekend with three different points race events in three countries, the action will continue next week in Thailand with the anticipated 78km long Akha Trail along the border with Myanmar. All trails lead to Siksorogo Lawu Ultra in Indonesia on 2/3 December - our big ATM Championship Final this season VIII. These are all the remaining events for you to score points and try to get in the Top 5 of your country in the ATM ranking, in order to be invited for the Final race of 77 km on and around Gunung Lawu (3200m) in Central Java. 

Events & Points Races

5 August - Thailand - Akha Trail - 78 km 

19 August - Indonesia - Bali Ultra Trail - 100km and 50km 

19 August - Malaysia - La Sportiva Ultimate Trails of Penang Eco 100 Miles and 100 km 

2 September - Malaysia - Borneo TMBT Ultra - 100 km and 50 km 

16 September - TBC soon 

23 September - Vietnam - VMM - 100 km, 70km and 50km 

1 October - Hong Kong - Dark 45 - 45 km

14 October - Philippines - Matanao Mountain Marathon - 70 km 

21 October - Thailand - UT Chiang Rai - 250 km and 115 km 

28 October - South Korea - Ulju Trail 9 Peaks - 125 km and 45 km

4 November - Malaysia - MMTF - 100 km and 50 km

11 November - Vietnam - Lam Dong Trail - 75 km

19 November - Philippines - Cordillera Mountain Ultra - 50 km 

25 November - India - Malnad Ultra - 100 km and 50 km 

ATM Championship Final:

2 December - Indonesia - Siksorogo Lawu Ultra - 77 km 

Season IX to start 9/10 December 2023

10 December - Japan - Izu Trail Journey - 70 km 

Full ATM Championship Ranking on 29 July 

Link: https://m.racetimingsolutions.com/rankings/search/run/2023 (filter by nationality)

Three months after his bad tumble in a very wet Korea 50k, Hisashi Kitamura bounced back with his 8th ATM race victory at the very nice Mount Daisetsu Trail Journey event near Asahikawa in Hokkaido, Japan. The UGLOW Asia ace took the bull by the horns despite limited training in the past months and ran away from the field immediately after the flag off at sunrise. Running with a protective cast on his wrist, and stitches on his right eye lid, Kitamura found a course that perfectly matches his trail abilities. Given the dry weather and trail conditions, one could say Mt Daisetsu Trail was the best possible comeback race for him.

The event is a classic in Hokkaido, the northern island of Japan, which has seen some of Japan’s best runners over the years, but also because there’s simply few other trail running competitions there. Now under a new management led by Mr Hiroya Genki Kon - himself a fervent runner with ATM experience - Mt Daisetsu Trail has serious ambitions to become a marquee race in Japan and Asia as a whole. This year’s edition certainly hit bull’s eye when one listened to the reviews of the participants. Trung Nguyen even stated that the 3 km long volcano ridge line halfway into the race was ‘the most beautiful trail ever in ATM’ !

As Kitamura was feeling comfortable leading the race at the km 35 checkpoint, another local runner was feeling at ease, too, and even catching the ‘Karate Kit’. Suguru Seo caught him before the 40k mark, which was an impressive feat. The question then was: how does Kitamura react? Plenty of runners’ morale would sink in their shoes at that point, but the 2022 overall ATM points champion is not easily shaken anymore. The duo stayed together until the very last hill in the conclusive section before the finish. Kitamura, with all his race craft collected over the years, attacked and got rid of Seo for the race victory. From a pure competitive point of view, this was a great win by Kitamura, who proved once more that when he is fresh he is very difficult to beat. Suguru Seo obviously was an excellent second just a couple of minutes behind, and we hope to see him again soon on the ATM tour. Third place went to Yuichi Ogawa, who tried to keep up with Kitamura in the first 15 km. Ogawa struggled to reach the finish and salvage his podium. Takaomi Tsubouchi came very close in fourth. The top 5 was filled by Hiroshi Ishikawa. Tomohiro Mizukoshi finished in 8th place after a strong last section, and Singapore’s Trung Nguyen completed the top 10. Trung had had a fantastic start, passing through CP 1 in 4th place, but then went off course. Still, top 10 is a fine result for him and qualification for Team Singapore in the ATM Championship Final beckons once again. For Kitamura, it was the second win of the season after Cuc Phuong 42 and so he now sits at 1000 points.

The women’s race looked like it was going to be an easy win for Sapporo-based Moeko Yasugahira. However, towards the end, the winner of last year’s Seoul 50k was put under pressure by Yukie Kohayase. It explains why Yasugahira looked quite exhausted for a short while as she reached the finish (see video). For her it’s the second points haul of the ATM season, and normally that should give her a spot in Team Japan for the ATM Final once again. Last year she finished 6th on Mt Apo.

Local Suguru Seo gave Kitamura a proper challenge during the race, but eventually had to settle for 2nd

In just a matter of a few weeks, Javanese runner Risqi Kurniawan has totally emerged from the shadows and has proven to be a serious force on the medium distance ATM circuit. In a very interesting direct race against ‘good old’ champion Arief Wismoyono, Kurniawan took his second ATM race win in a fortnight. Last Sunday, the youngster outpaced Wismoyono by a big 34 minutes on the 48km long Dieng Trail Run and cements his recently gained status as the Indonesian benchmark on the 50k. With his victories in Mantra 65 and Dieng 50, he now has 1000 points already, which could be sufficient to secure his spot in Team Indonesia for the ATM Finals. He is also scheduled to run Bali Ultra 50 next month. On our facebook page, you can watch a short interview with the new Indonesian trail star. Arief Wismoyono himself secured his wild card for the Final at Siksorogo Lawu Ultra as a former ATM Champion (2015). In his post-race interview, he showed his class by admitting Kurniawan is now too fast for him on 50k runable courses, and that he is looking forward to running with him in an attempt to win the ATM Championship for Indonesia.

The race started at midnight and was held at an altitude of 2000m and above, which felt very cold for many runners. Kurniawan and Wismoyono immediately set the pace, followed by Kasmana, another new name from Bandung. Kasmana is a protégé of Wismoyono and finished third, less than 10 minutes behind his mentor. Singapore’s Chris Timms was trying to keep up as he had podium ambitions, but went off course early on and that saw his chances evaporate. Timms settled into fourth together with Thimo Kilberth, who had his best ATM race in a while. Sumatra’s Andre Sinaga unfortunately twisted his ankle badly and retired from a race that could have brought him into a position to join Team Indonesia in December. Sinaga, second in Orang Utan Trail ahead of Timms and Kilberth, will need to try again in Bali Ultra next month.

The women’s competition in Dieng was won by La Sportiva’s highly experienced and popular runner Novita Wulandari. Her first ATM race victory. Indah Julita, a.k.a Meili, came second and Qheiza Wiranda Edelwise third. For Edelwise it’s her second points result of the season, which puts her now in second place behind Shindy Patricia in the women’s Indonesia ATM ranking. Bali Ultra on 19 August will be an important event to get into the top five as that will be the fourth and last Indonesian points race of the 2023 season before the big championship final event at Siksorogo Lawu Ultra in Central Java on 2/3 December.

The men’s podium with Kurniawan, Wismoyono and Kauswana

Novita Wulandari and Meili : the two fastest women in Dieng Trail Run 50 !

Qheiza Wiranda Edelwise scored 3rd on the podium in her 2nd ATM race of the season!

The three podium placers plus Chris Timms and Thimo Kilberth as fourth and fifth

The 3rd edition of MUSPO 100 in Bukidnon, Mindanao, Philippines, saw an absolutely dominant performance by new T8 recruit John Ray Onifa, who opened his 2023 ATM account with his 6th career race victory in our series. His winning time was 11h46. So far, Onifa has never had a focus on winning the championship, but that may change this season. His victory last weekend in was a reminder how strong he can be, leading from start to finish and never looking back. Local star Yoyong Sacayle, himself in good form over the past months, understood the realities and settled for his own pace, which was in itself fast enough for a rather comfortable second place. For Sacayle it was already his third podium this year after Santa Ines in Luzon and Cuc Phuong in Vietnam. Several other Filipinos delivered solid performances at MUSPO. Roberto Cain stepped up to score a third place on the podium. Behind him, Simeon Mesias and Bernie Bauyot took four and five, ahead of fresh Grandmaster Sean Aying, who may still have felt Mantra 116 in his legs. Nevertheless, Aying now tops the overall ATM championship ranking with his fourth Top 10 of the season. His objective will now be to eliminate his rank 10 from Sierra Madre, by doing a better result in his fifth ATM race later this year. His points total of 1435 is also important for the other Filipinos aiming to get into the national country team for the ATM Finals, especially those not planning to complete four races.

The women’s 100km developed into a competition between pre-race favourite Julie Ann Morales and Mary Joy Sumanda. Both ran together most of the day and decided to wait until the last kilometers to determine the outcome. Morales, fifth in last year’s ATM Final as a newbie, turned out to have the fastest dash to the line and took her second ATM race win after The Punisher a year ago. The duo completed the distance just under 20 hours. A bit later, Shekina Velasquez completed the podium ahead of the returning Manilyn Mamugay and Metzi Joy Alson. For Sumanda and Velasquez, the great results add to their points totals this season in what promises to become a tight competition for the five spots in Team Pilipinas for the ATM Finals.

Julie Ann Morales and Mary Joy Sumanda ran together most of the day and sprinted it out at the end

Yoyong Sacayle scored his third podium of the ATM season but Onifa was clearly too fast

Great third place on the podium for Roberto Cain

Shekina Velasquez took third place on the podium - her first!

6th place for new overall ATM points leader Sean Aying, who already bagged his 4th result of the season

The second Japanese points race in the 2023 ATM Championship series takes place in Hokkaido on Sunday:: Mount Daisetsu Trail Journey in the national park bearing the same name. A 60km race in a remote area of the northern island, which will already have its 12th edition and is therefore becoming a trail classic in the country. Lots of strong Japanese runners have been at this event in the past, and it won’t be any different now. The event organisation is now also opening up to more international participation and recognition and this season’s ATM entry is a first step. The event is known to be very scenic and taking place on trails that are otherwise hard to access.

In fact, this year the the longest trail 'Daisetsuzan Trail Journey' located on the north side of the Daisetsuzan Mountains, Hokkaido's roof, will be held on a new course. It is the only trail race in Hokkaido where you can run through the ridgeline of the North Daisetsuzan Mountains. The ridgeline over 1700m in Hokkaido is equivalent to the natural environment of 3000m in Honshu, making it a challenging natural environment. Runners can enjoy magnificent views, encounters with alpine plants, and animals such as naki-usagi (Japanese hares). The 60km has 3100 metres of elevation gain and starts at 4am.

From an ATM Championship perspective, we are looking forward to the return of Hisashi Kitamura. ‘Karate Kit’ had a rough day in Korea at the end of April, ending his run with a serious black eye and a broken wrist due to a tumble. Coinciding with his move from KL to Tokyo, it meant Kitamura had to take a break from the sport for nearly three months. Having only just resumed training, Kitamura won’t have the largest of ambitions in Daisetsu Trail this Sunday, and presumably it will be a first test to see where he stands with a view to Borneo TMBT Ultra early September - a race that he finally wants to win after two consecutive second places against Milton Amat.

Also in Hokkaido, will be Tomohiro Mizukoshi and Singapore’s Trung Nguyen - both very familiar faces on the ATM circuit. They can also both do a great job for their ATM Championship Final qualification this weekend. Mizukoshi is leading the ATM Japan ranking as he already delivered two strong results this year. A third result should put him with over 1000 points, probably enough to stay in the Top 5.

There’s lots of fast runners in Japan and we will certainly get to know some this weekend. In the women’s 60km race, we will also see Sapporo’s Moeko Yasugahira again as well as Korea’s Boyoung Jan.

Stay tuned on our usual ATM channels for live updates from the race in Hokkaido this Sunday.

Tomohiro Mizukoshi remains a podium candidate in every race

Three months after his bad fall in Korea, Hisashi Kitamura returns to the trails in Hokkaido on Sunday

Trung Nguyen : always a contender on. a good day

Winner of last year’s Seoul 50k : Moeko Yasugahira lives in Sapporo, on Hokkaido island

The second points race this weekend takes place in Indonesia: Dieng Trail Run in Taman Syailendra in Central Java. Second edition of the event organised by Goat Run and ESA, and featuring a very interesting 50km race with nearly 3400 hm of elevation gain. The participation field is not the biggest, but the quality is definitely there. Arief Wismoyono will be facing some of the most talented young Indonesian trail runners post-covid, including Risqi Kurniawan.

It’s just been two weeks since the tough mountain trail Mantra 116 in Malang, but Wismoyono and Kurniawan - winners of the 116km and 65km races respectively - clearly have energy left in the tank. In fact, Kurniawan even did and won a 60k race in Malaysia last week, too. Let’s hope for him it isn’t ‘overkill’ because a victory against Wismoyono would resonate in the ATM world. On paper, the 2015 champion is now clearly most competitive on the long mountain ultras, which plays into Kurniawan’s hands. A weekend of rest could just be what Wismoyono needed to give his young foe a run for his money on Sunday’s 50km - which starts at midnight. There’s a few other runners who could take the victory as well, however. Medan’s Andre Mozes SInaga was one of two exciting Sumatran runners in Orang Utan Trail at the end of May. Sinaga was second, narrowly behind Erwin Simanjuntak, but a few minutes ahead of Singapore’s Chris Timms. The latter is also competing in Dieng, and is keen to get his first ever ATM race win. For Sinaga, Dieng Trail Run, is an important race also to show himself against his compatriots. Sumatran runners do not have a lot of opportunity to race elsewhere, even within their own country Indonesia. As for Kurniawan, a second great result this weekend could already give Sinaga a spot in Team Indonesia for the ATM Championship Final. Wismoyono just needs to finish the race to score his wild card as former ATM champion. Bali-based Thimo Kilberth has already had two points races this season, and is aiming for a third result in Dieng to ensure his spot in the national country team again. After Dieng, there’s only Bali Ultra Trail left to score ATM points within Indonesia itself.

There’s several other men on the start list with podium potential, and so are many women. None of the better known Indonesian names are running this weekend, so it is an excellent chance for Novita Wulandari, Malaysia’s Siti Hajar Razali and Heroin Parulian to claim the spotlight. Parulian and Desi Ariyani already collected a heap of points in Orang Utan Trail and could secure their spots on Team Indonesia for the ATM Final.

ATM will be reporting live from Dieng Trail Run 50km on our usual channels.

Risqi Kurniawan is having a busy month. A good result in Dieng may already secure him a spot for Team Indonesia in the upcoming ATM Championship Final

Andre Sinaga (front) was one of the two surprisingly quick Sumatra runners in Orang Utan Trail in May

In Mantra 116 two weeks ago, 2015 ATM Champion Arief Wismoyono proved he still has what it takes

Chris Timms, 3rd in Orang Utan Trail, will aim for his first ATM race win this weekend

It’s a blockbuster weekend in ATM this weekend with no fewer than three points race events counting for the championship rankings. A mixture of circumstances led to this situation, in a way illustrating it remains very difficult to plan medium to long term in trail running. MUSPO Bukidnon 100 in Mindanao, Philippines, will be the first race to start on Saturday evening and is therefore featured first in our news reel. It’s the second time MUSPO is on our championship calendar after the very wet edition last year, which was unfortunately overshadowed by the bad fall of female favourite Sherlyn Fugaban, who fractured her thigh badly a few hours into the race. Fugaban today is doing well, the rehabilitation ongoing while it of course remains uncertain when or if she will return to competitive trail racing. Aggy Sabanal made a successful comeback to ATM in the same race, while Larry Apolinario looked impressive in the men’s after Macaneras threw in the towel after both of them had gotten off route for a significant amount of time. None of these Filipino star runners will be in the race this weekend and, instead, eyes will be focused on John Ray Onifa. Originally from the nearby Visayas, Onifa will be gunning for his 6th ATM race victory and the first of what he hopes to be several this season. His main competitor on paper seem to be Yoyong Sacayle, already twice on the podium this season, and Sean Aying, who just scored 3rd in Mantra 116. In the women’s race, Julie Ann Morales could be the one to beat in her first ATM appearance of 2023. Morales was one of the female newcomers on the scene, winning The Punisher, and scoring a solid 5th place in the ATM Championship Final. on Mt Apo. A year ago, she finished right behind Cecille Wael in third place at MUSPO. Other podium candidates are Manilyn Mamuguay - coming back to ATM after a few years off - , Shekina Velasquez, Mary Joy Sumanda and Rhea Batac.

We will be reporting from Bukidnon this weekend on our usual channels.

John Ray Onifa returns to the ATM scene this weekend, aiming for his 6th race win throughout the years

Julie Ann Morales won the Punisher last year. Can she add MUSPO 100 to her collection of race wins?

Two podiums so far in ATM 2023 for Yoyong Sacayle! How does he fare against Onifa at MUSPO 100?

Every year one of the most anticipated events on the ATM Championship calendar is Borneo TMBT Ultra in Sabah, Malaysia. The 11th edition of the Southeast Asia classic mountain jungle trail is scheduled for 2/3 September, and as usual both the 100km and the 50km are points races for the Championship rankings. Registrations are closing end of this month.

Milton Amat has been the local hero over the past years following two famous victories against Japan’s Hisashi Kitamura. The latter has indicated he will be back again this season for a ‘third time lucky’ attempt. In the women’s 100k, the local home crowd now also has a major contender for the prestigious race win: Rejlen James. Having returned this season after a few years off and pregnancy, James won BUTM 100 and the Borneo Miler in impressive fashion. Sabah of course has an incredible trail running community, and the vibe and support is what makes TMBT even more special.

Technically it is not the toughest 100km on the calendar, but many argue it is therefore the most-balanced century run. There’s longish runable sections alternating with steep muddy single trails, with Mount Kinabalu almost always within sight. The 50k does have a very tough uphill finish - rather unique in ATM, and has seen some incredible scenes over the years. TMBT is not only one of the most exotic events, but also ranks consistently amongst the best organised, despite the absence of big or loud thrills (considered another big plus for the event according to many, in fact!) . TMBT is trail running in its purest form.

There’s several shorter race categories and a nighttime race on offer, if you’re not looking for ATM points.

Come prepared in any case, as the heat and humidity of Borneo always plays its role in the races. Registration goes via the website, where you can also read the conditions of entry the competition regulations. Access by clicking the button below.

A race summary of last year’s event is also re-posted for your viewing.

Mt Kinabalu is always around during TMBT

By now everyone knows this year’s Asia Trail Master Championship will be concluded in Indonesia, with the deciding race being Siksorogo Lawu Ultra in Central Java on 2/3 December. But do you know the event also has many open race categories - that is, besides the ATM Final race? So, why not join and support your national country team members for their big appointment, and then run yourself, too? You can choose between 15km, 30km, 50km and - indeed - the 77km. The latter is on exactly the same course as the ATM Final, but starts two hours later.

Siksorogo Lawu Ultra is one of the most popular trail events in Indonesia, especially as Tahura Trail in Bandung has still not returned post-covid. Highly applauded for technical event organisation and overall event atmosphere, Siksorogo will be a wonderful trail party and an exciting end of our season VIII. Gunung Lawu is one of those many Indonesian 3000m+ mountain summits and the central point of the race. But there’s a lot of sightseeing options in the area as well. The event is held in Karanganyar, near Solo (a.k.a. Surakarta) and Yogyakarta, cities with a lot of Javanese history. Solo is famous as a stronghold and center of Javanese culture and tradition. It features two royal houses in one single city: the Kraton of Solo and the Mangkunegaran, a principality. Descendants of these two royal houses are still considered leaders today. A quick google search will provide you with loads of links to attractions and tourism options in the area, including visits to the old royal palace, batik and antique markets, historical temples and waterfalls. If you have more time on your hands during your visit to the Siksorogo event, you could even consider a trip to nearby Borobudur, the largest Buddhist temple in the world and widely considered as one of the seven world wonders. A great and relaxing opportunity perhaps for the day after the race on Sunday, on the way back to Yogyakarta, where most runners will fly in and out of.

Regular registration for the open races will begin in August via the website below. The second button links to a write-up of hikers’ experiences climbing up Gunung Lawu, which may serve as some background information, and stimulation as well!

 

With Mantra 116 last week we entered the second half of Season VIII (8) in the Asia Trail Master Championship, so let’s take a quick look at the situation in the country rankings with a view to the great ATM Final event in Indonesia on 2/3 December: Siksorogo Lawu Ultra. Runners need to qualify for that final race by ending the season within the Top 5 of their country, and finish at least 2 ATM races. Former ATM champions can get a wild card as long as they meet that latter requirement.

On top of the standings overall, we find Malaysia’s Amir Zaki and Philippines’ Roan Biguasen. Both have been busy in the first semester and already put three and four points results in the bank, respectively. For Biguasen, it means she has already arrived at the consolidation phase: only a runner’s best four race results are taken into account. She has 1690 points, courtesy of three second-places (V Trail 85, Orang Utan Trail 50 and Trail of Man 55) and one seventh place (Sierra Madre Trail). Her goal is now to turn that 7th place into a 6th place or better in her next race. Biguasen already tried to do so at Mantra 116 last weekend, but instead suffered a DNF. Always smiling, Biguasen, who lives in Kuala Lumpur and joined Team Ole Athletic, is still very much a newcomer in trail and distance running. Mantra was her first attempt at a high altitude and technical mountain trail. Getting a spot in Team Pilipinas for the ATM Championship Final is not the easiest task given the sheer quantity of great trail runners in the country, but Biguasen already seems quite safe with her current points total. Her compatriot Irish Glorioso is on the same path with already 1540 points collected in four races this season. Glorioso won the season opener in Laos - V Trail 85 - , but has not been near the podium since. Ample improvement possibilities still in the second semester, and let’s not forget Glorioso was an ATM Finalist last year finishing seventh on Mt Apo! They are the only female runners with four results already in the pocket.

In third place we find Indonesia’s Shindy Patricia: one of the stars of the current season from a purely competitive point of view. Shindy has been around since the beginning of ATM in 2015, was third in the Championship in 2016 and fourth in 2017. She took a bit of a break from our series in 2019 to focus on another project, but returned remarkably last year already with fourth place in the ATM Final and the fastest summit attack on Mt Apo in that race (i.e. faster than dominant race winner Hau Ha!). That level of new-found competitiveness has still been increasing ever since, as Shindy showed by winning Cuc Phuong Jungle Paths 100 in Vietnam and Mantra 116 in her home region of Malang in East Java, both times placing among the top 5 male runners.. She now has five ATM race wins on her record. Rumours have it Shindy started working with a new coach, focusing less on quantity and more on quality of performances. It clearly pays off so far! With a maximum of 1000 points in just two races, she should already be quite safe for Team Indonesia qualification. Especially as she has another two ATM races on her programme in the coming months. And here’s an interesting detail: Shindy Patricia knows the ATM Final’s mountain very well: she won a domestic race on Gunung Lawu last year!

T8 Indonesia’s Shindy will not be the only ‘home’ runner at Siksorogo Lawu Ultra with dreams of winning the ATM title, or at least score a genuine podium. At Mantra, not only did former ATM champion Arief Wismoyono show he is still Indonesia’s mountain ultra runner-to-beat, but on the medium distance we saw some of the country’s young trail stars finally compete against some regional competition - and with great success. Risqi Kurniawan hails from Central Java, Magelang - gateway to Borobudur -, and knows Lawu very well, too. He collected his first ever 500 ATM points last week and is signed up for next week’s Dieng Trail Run 50, too. Hilman Maulana and Akmad Nizar, Sobiri Haerudin, Erwin Simanjuntak and Andre Sinaga - the two Sumatra boys who took a great 1-2 in Orang Utan Trail - are all great new faces to follow in the coming months. It may even be tougher than expected to get into the men’s top 5 by the end of November and secure a spot in Team Indonesia, especially as famous Bali-expat Thimo Kilberth has been carefully preparing his race programme to maximise his performances and get onto the team as he did last year. Thinking ahead, Thimo can be a strategic team captain for the others. On the female side, 2018 ATM Champion Ruth Theresia is one race finish away from getting a wild card after finishing Lantau 70 in March. SIti Nuraini, Fitta Emike Sari, Yustina Wardhani, Nia Swastika, Yuni Noor Hayati and Sianti Candra had great runs in Mantra. Let’s see who of them can all make it to the Team by year’s end.

Amir Zaki leads the overall ranking today, and obviously therefore also is in pole position for qualification into Team Malaysia. Something he accomplished also last year. Zaki was known as a short to medium distance runner, but following fatherhood has tried himself out on the long ultras. Winning Borneo Miler in June, and running very intelligently, proved he can also perform in that! His fourth place in Koboi earlier in May, right behind 50k specialist Mohamad Affindi was already a sign Zaki, from Team Crampfix Malaysia, has made a competitive step forward over the winter. Perhaps not yet fully recovered from the Borneo Miler, Zaki had to settle for fifth in Mantra 65 last weekend, but it’s clear he will be one of the spearheads of Team Malaysia in December. He has 1300 points out of three races so far. In his footsteps follows Amierul Amin from Team Ole Athletic, another new youngster making a name for himself in the first semester of 2023. Amin collected 1140 points in three races so far. These two have been going so well, they are gradually applying some pressure on other Malaysian top runners. Milton Amat won Koboi and took 500 points there, but is currently “only” 8th in the ranking with that single result. Obviously, plenty of races left in the second part of the season, including his home race Borneo TMBT in September. The same applies for a.o. Wilsen Singgin. However, just like in Philippines, there’s a lot of runners doing their utmost best to get in the top five, so nothing seems for granted. That applies to the women’s Malaysian team as well. Norlela Ismail - Team La Sportiva Malaysia - tops the ranking so far with 730 points from two solid results in Koboi and Mantra. Nur Amaani Razilan collected 640 points and ranks second so far. Nur Amaani also won Janda Baik Ultra, a Candidate Race, and looks like a strong candidate to enter Team Malaysia for the first time. Vice-ATM Champion Sally Yap got 450 points from her second place in Koboi and currently sits in 6th. Based on her performance on Mount Apo last year, Sally Yap is logically one of the top favourites for the ATM Championship title this year. But to win, you first need to qualify, of course. Sabah’s Rejlen James - who has reportedly moved to Team Sportlicious - is the comeback story of the season so far. James won Borneo Miler and also BUTM 100 - against Sally Yap - even though the latter this year was not a points race. Rejlen James was a race winner on Bromo in 2017 but then disappeared from the scene to give birth. In her footsteps follows a Sabahan youngster from Team Kolumpa, the team managed by the legendary Lintanga sisters. Lynda Marylyn looked good in the Borneo MIler. Let’s see how she fares on shorter distances in the coming months. Also qualified for now is Celeste Teo, and she is a crafty experienced trail runner who might as well focus on securing that spot.

We already put the spotlight on the women’s Team Pilipinas in this article, let’s mention a few words about the men’s . Davao’s Sean Aying is in pole position for qualification at the moment with 1085 points from three races. Aying, a fresh Grandmaster, was already a finalist last year. Just like for Team Malaysia, however, anything can happen in the next few months. Yoyong Sacayle has looked very competitive in two races this year, followed by Maynard Encormal. Reigning ATM Champion Arnie Macaneras scored a 3rd place in Lantau 70, and is just 1 race finish away from securing his wild card. Macaneras, from Team T8, is keen to defend his title in December. Will Elmer Retolado - winner in Santa Ines - recover from his injury in time to boost his points total and earn his spot in Team Pilipinas? What about John Ray Onifa and Larry Apolinario? The men’s pinoy team could potentially appear the strongest of all. On the female side, Elizabeth Dangadan, Angelie Cabalo and Cecille Wael have all already collected a result in Santa Ines. But with busy bees like Biguasen, Glorioso and dark horse Ann Jilian Pulanco, team places won’t come cheap.

Hau Ha was the first ever Vietnamese ATM Champion last year with an overwhelming season culminating in a difficult, and yet ultra dominating victory in the Mt Apo Sky Race. Logically, Hau Ha has been eyeing the world stage for 2023 and also the Vietnamese marathon record on road. It is a question mark whether she will have energy left to defend her ATM title in December. Hau Ha already took an ATM win this season in Dalat and is on the start list of her home race VMM, so a wild card should be no issue. Team Vietnam was the third strongest team in the 2022 Championship, so in any case there’s life besides Hau Ha. Rank 2 to 8 in the women’s is currently only separated by 75 points, so literally everything is still up for grabs. Thi Lan Huong Vu and Huong Nguyen Thi are leading the pack today. Looking at the men’s, Nguyen Si Hieu, Chris Devoize (Frenchman living in Vietnam for over 8 years) and Nguyen Tien Vo are setting the tune with two strong results so far. Nguyen Si Hieu was unable to make it to the Final for professional reasons last year, but can more than make that up at Siksorogo. A very smart performer, Nguyen Si Hieu also has Indonesian experience - having won Mantra 116 last year together with his compatriot Quang Tran. The latter has been the man-to-beat in Vietnam for years, and reportedly has his eyes set on doing better in the ATM Final this year than sixth last year. Without 100 km in the legs from a week before, Quang Tran - a great painter in his free time - can indeed be the outside favourite for the ATM Championship title at Siksorogo. Few people will talk about him, but when he is ready, physically and mentally - watch out!

Team Japan: At this time last year, Hisashi Kitamura was winning everything and had already secured his place in his country’s team. A dip in performance and a bad bout of covid in the autumn jeopardised his chances on Mt Apo and he had to settle for fifth place and the honour of finishing the 2022 ATM season as the overall points leader. Kitamura collected an easy race win in Cuc Phuong 42k early April and has since moved back from Kuala Lumpur to Tokyo. His move unfortunately coincided with a bad tumble in the very wet Korea 50k race, which ended with a broken wrist and a serious black eye. ‘Karate Kit’ has only recently resumed training, but his dedication to his ambition to win the ATM Championship remains in tact. Qualification for Team Japan should not be an issue for him. The question is who will join him in Team Japan? Tomohiro Mizukoshi is a near-certainty. The Roppongi runner actually tops the standings with 725 points from two races this season. Deep Japan Ultra last month propelled a number of ‘Japanese star runners’ into the leaderboard. Takashi Doi, Saturo Geya and Kazufumi Ose - just to name them - all could join Kitamura as potential podium placers, even champions, should they dedicate themselves to it. With another points race in Japan coming up next weekend in Hokkaido, we may get a clearer picture already. The same applies for the female team. Hiroko Suzuki leads with 525 points for winning Deep Japan Ultra. No runner has as yet finished two ATM races this season - remember, a minimum requirement.

Team Thailand - UTKC fell into the water in January, and so Thai runners have one race less in their home country to score ATM points. Chiang Mai’s Trail of Man in June delivered some very interesting results, however. Thosaeng Kunno won that race as young newbie to trail and eager to test himself against other strong runners from across the region. He is due to race again at the upcoming Akha Trail. Jay Jantaraboon won Korea 50k and currently sits in the top 5 of the Thai ranking with that. Traditionally, his focus is on the global stage, however, so it seems unlikely he will be part of Team Thailand in our ATM Final on 2/3 December. Narin Kongsiri and Amorn Kimnguan have been doing well, both collecting points in two races already and heading the board. On the female side, Morgan Nisachon was excellent in Trail of Man, her ATM debut. Let’s see if she can follow that up with more in the second semester. Qualification for Team Thailand is still very open today.

Team Hong Kong currently has two near-certainties already with Jeff Campbell (winner in Sierra Madre Trail and Lantau) and Gone Running Teammate Jose Luis Alvelais. Campbell is a potential ATM Champion for sure, and will be happy to know that Gunung Lawu is considered much less technical than Mount Apo. Who will support the Canada-born Campbell at Siksorogo is still open. The same for the women’s Hong Kong Team, as no runner has so far delivered two results this season.

Team South Korea is interesting to follow this year, as they might have another potential ATM champion in the ranks. Kim Jisub has been the benchmark over there for ages, especially on the medium distance. Kim Jisub has reportedly taken an interest in the ATM title and will start his qualification campaign next week at Mt Daisetsu Trail in Hokkaido. With also Ulju Trail 5 Peaks still on the menu end of October, that’s two potential strong race results already - could be enough for Team Korea. Mind you, if he can stimulate some of the other Korean ‘stars’, both male and female, we have a team that can surprise everyone in December.

Qualification for some of the, let’s say, smaller countries is still very much open. Team Australia may have a strong men’s squad, including Andrew Farmers and Washingto Firmeza. Team Singapore may see Deric Lau as a potential top 10 podium candidate. Trung Nguyen likewise. On the women’s side, Vincere Zeng, 8th in the Final last year, is keen to qualify again to keep Singapore in the spotlights, too. Team Brunei was still absent in 2022 following covid, but is looking good to have a decent representation in Indonesia in December. Team Nepal is likely to have one of the smallest teams in the ATM Final, but the two ladies most likely to qualify, Rashila Tamang and Chhiok Sherpa, are both candidates for the podium - and who knows more? They looked good on a flat 50k in Koboi in May, what if they have a high altitude mountain in front of them like Lawu?

We conclude this round-up with Team Asia Expat , as usual a very strong group of runners. Important to remember is that the expat team is not part of the ATM Team Championship, so all runners will only feature in the individual race result. Alex Tilley, based in Penang, has been one of the most active and successful male runners this season and already collected 1250 points. He should be safe already, and he loves mountains so he is a dangerman for the Final. And so is T8’s Alessandro Sherpa as well, of course. The 2018 ATM Champion, also third last year, made sure he got two strong results in the bank before returning to Italy for the summer. Sherpa will return to Asia at some point in Q3 , and is a competitor who knows how to prepare himself, also psychologically, for a big objective. Nobody has ever won the ATM Championship twice, Sherpa - alongside Macaneras - are arguably the most likely men to achieve that feat. Chris Timms, 9th in the Final last year, is a dark horse and is currently a third card Team Asia Expat can play during the 77km long race. On the female side, no protagonist has so far banked two results this season, and so things remain wide open. But we have seen some excellent performances by Katrina Hamlin, Christine Mitchell and last-but-not-least Vanja Cnops. Vanja was third on Mt Apo last year - taking the fight bravely to Hau Ha in the early stages, and putting the Vietnamese runner under pressure for the first time in her running life. Cnops paid the price herself afterwards, though, got a knock of the hammer on the climb and she also had to let Sally Yap pass for second place. As for runners like Campbell and Kitamura, Gunung Lawu will suit Vanja a lot more than Apo…. so who knows?

Check the full ATM 2023 rankings here

https://m.racetimingsolutions.com/rankings/2023

No points races for the championship ranking this weekend - in anticipation of the perfect storm next week with three separate points race events - but we have a very nice ATM Candidate on the programme in the south of the Philippines. Camiguin Island Trail Race is the latest project by Vertical To Sky and takes place in northern Mindanao between Cagayan de Oro, Balingoan and Bohol Island. The island Camiguin is also knows as the Island Born of Fire, and ranks among the most scenic in the whole of Philippines. A must-visit for the outdoor enthusiast, as it has everything on offer: trails to run, hike or mountainbike on, swimming and diving areas - including free diving, and several refreshing waterfalls.

The actual event host is the Municipality of Mambajao, and the 50k main race takes place on. Sunday.

The course is a nice natural circle around Mambajao with Mount Hibok standing out halfway during the race. Runners will go up and down the peak. Total elevation gain is set at approx 2200 hm.

Camiguin Island Trail is a boutique event, as most Vertical to Sky events are, which means tightly controlled participation numbers to ensure a great experience for all. On the start list of the 50km category, we find some well-known names as Elle Alvarez - female winner of the Mt Apo Sky Race a few years back -, Freddie Blanco, Eldy Bulod, Rodney Ortega and Archie Paran: regular winners and podium placers in domestic events in Mindanao and the Visayas.

We will be reporting from the event this weekend, thanks to our reporters Tin Salazar and Richard Akol. Stay tuned to our regular ATM channels, in particular facebook and instagram.

Event organiser and ATM Grandmaster Doi Calbes is very enthusiastic about his latest project on Camiguin Island