Thai runner Chinnakrit “Gundam” Soongpankhao secured the overall victory in the Flower 20K category at the Amazean Jungle Thailand by UTMB, crossing the finish line with a time of 1:24:30.

Representing Team Pro and Mileage, Soongpankhao dominated the 17.2-kilometer course, which featured 443 meters of elevation gain. He maintained a high average speed of 12.2 km/h and recorded just 1 minute and 15 seconds of total rest time to secure first place in the Overall, Category, and Division rankings.

Soongpankhao executed a precise race strategy, utilising his road-running background to secure the win against strong international competition.

 

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“I needed to go with the first group to have a nice position going into the single track,” Soongpankhao said. “On the road is my strength, so after I got out from the trail, I pushed on the road.”

He acknowledged the uphill speed of his closest competitor, Malaysian runner Osama Alif, who finished just 56 seconds behind him. “The Malaysian guy is very fast on uphill. That made me think I needed to push to stay with them,” Soongpankhao added, noting that Alif will be a formidable competitor with more trail experience.

 

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Looking ahead, the Thai champion is currently shifting his focus toward road racing. He plans to run the 38km Khao Prathap Chang Trail as a “B” race to prepare for an upcoming 50km road event.

Soongpankhao also expressed interest in competing in Malaysia in the near future, citing attractive race routes. For runners looking to test their limits in Thailand, he highly recommended the Kapong Trail in his home province of Phang Nga, known for its challenging southern jungle terrain and deep mud.