Outstanding Rashila Tamang wins on Mount Popa

2023 ATM Champion Rashila Tamang seems firmly back at her best this year with a convincing overall victory at the Mount Popa Jungle Trail Run 50k in Myanmar last Saturday. It was her second ATM race of the current season, which means Rashila also collected her wild card for the Championship Final in Vietnam on 4 October. Mount Popa, near Mandalay, was the second Burmese points race event of the season after Kalaw in February. The big star of that race, Jack Speed, had to settle for third overall and second male on Mount Popa. It was Thet Paing Oo who took top honours in the male category. Interestingly, but underlining her performance, Rashila Tamang finished in 6h18, one hour and twenty minutes ahead of Paing Oo, who himself was fourteen minutes ahead of Jack Speed. Aung Tun Lin was third on the men’s podium. He managed to stay ahead of young hopeful but injury-plagued Myint Myat. Second female was Yi YI win, already third in Kalaw as well. She had a great race of her own, coming in ninth overall in 9 hours. Sarah Seng was third on the female podium.

The 50km long Mount Popa run had an estimated elevation gain of about 2000hm and - just like Kalaw - was praised afterwards for the fantastic vibe at the event.