Malaysia’s Osama Alif Storms to 2nd Place Finish at Amazean Jungle Thailand by UTMB
In a stunning UTMB debut, Malaysian runner Osama Alif secured second place overall in the Flower 20K category at the Amazean Jungle Thailand by UTMB, crossing the finish line in 1:25:26.
Representing the Northflow Run Community, the Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) student delivered a breakout performance, finishing just 56 seconds behind Thai champion Chinnakrit Soongpankhao. Alif conquered the 17.2-kilometre course—featuring 443 metres of elevation gain—with a highly competitive average speed of 12 km/h.
The podium finish came as a massive surprise to the field, and especially to Alif himself, who entered the race with zero expectations.
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“I am definitely very happy because I didn’t expect to get this position at all,” Alif said. “I just went to have fun, enjoy the race, and didn’t set any targets.”
Race data highlights a brilliant tactical execution. Alif passed the 3.7km checkpoint in 7th place before initiating a massive surge.
“At the start, I took it easy with a relaxed pace of around 4:00 to 4:10. Once we hit the climbing phase at the third kilometre, I started picking off runners one by one,” Alif explained. “By the time I reached the peak, I was close to Hazim and managed to overtake the race leader. I didn’t expect to suddenly be running alongside the frontrunners.”
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Experiencing his first overseas UTMB event, the Perlis native praised the electric atmosphere in Thailand. Comparing the course to his home turf, Alif noted that while the competition and environment felt intense, the technicality of the Thai route was slightly less challenging than typical Malaysian trails.
Unfazed by his new status as a UTMB podium finisher, Alif plans to maintain his stress-free approach to the sport. While he has not officially registered for his next event, he is eyeing local Malaysian races such as the UUM Sintok Trek or Trail Des Gombak, noting that he plans to simply run relaxed and without any targets.
