All Sabahan elites at Kadamaian Ultra 70

If you thought that trail running in Sabah is only TMBT and BUTM, think again. This weekend the next ATM Candidate Race will take place in Kota Belud, approx one hour north of Kota Kinabalu: the Kadamaian Ultra, also known as KAR Ultra 70. This race developed under the wings of the Kadamaian Adventure Race that has been organised already for a number of years. KAR Ultra 70 will see nearly all the top runners from Sabah on the start list. It’s almost a Sabahan Championship race!

The main race of 70km has 3250 hm of elevation gain and has a course that goes up and down with one significant peak in the middle. It’s hard to tell if everyone will go flat out this weekend, but it will be very interesting to follow Milton Amat’s performance. Amat was one of the big ATM Championship challengers in 2019 and became the benchmark in Sabah that year. After the covid break, Amat showed at BUTM last March that he has lost none of his ability despite now also being 40 years old. It has again been quiet around him since, however, which is perhaps not unusual, but it does make trail observers wonder how well he will perform this weekend. Daved Simpat, who scored 2nd in Cameron Ultra just a fortnight ago and Wilsen Singgin, the 2021 Malaysia Trail Master Champion, are always strong competitors, and at KAR Ultra we are delighted to see also the two Sumping brothers on the same start list: Saffrey and Sampirin! This really does not happen a lot to get all the top dogs in the same race, and it is what gives Saturday’s KAR Ultra a lot of spice!

In the women’s 70k race, the Lintanga sisters naturally assume a lot of attention. Adelinah, winner of Penang Eco 100 miles in 2019 and 2nd at MMTF last December, will be making her first major appearance of the season after the postponement of her Everest climbing plans. Jassica Lintanga - Jess - is hoping to return to her podium-scoring form of before the covid crisis.

Milton Amat was in superb form at BUTM last March.

Adelinah Lintanga saw her Everest plans evaporate earlier this year and returns to her home trails tomorrow