TAIPING, 16 December 2019 : The North Face Malaysia Mountain Trail Festival 2019 (TNF-MMTF 2019) flagged-off with a bigger turnout this year where over 2,100 runners from 35countries converged in Taiping, Perak for the competition from 13-15 December 2019. 

TNF-MMTF offered four routes for trail runners (13KM, 25KM, 55KM and 84KM) to test their physical endurance at the pristine yet challenging trails of Taiping with various elevations of 610m, 1,440m, 3,250m and 5,290m respectively. The 25KM, 55KM and 84KM race courses are certified by the International Trail Running Association (ITRA) and have been added into the list of qualifying races for the world-renowned Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB).

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Coming off silver and bronze medals in the SEA Games Obstacle Course event, Saddam Pittli won the new 25km Men Open known as the “Ball Breaker Run”.

Local favourites Christine Loh vying for the Asia Trail Master championship finished in second place while Tahira Zaid finished in third, behind Ukrainian Tetiana Drahonchuk who won the 25km Women Open. Meanwhile, Karen Geh won the 25km Women Veteran category.

MMTF introduced a 13km run suited for beginners known as the “Freshman Run”. Local favourites Soh Wai Ching won the Men’s Open, while Karen Siah won the Women’s Open. It was a celebratory family affair for Karen as her husband, Gary Fong finished third in the Men’s Open while her 65-year-old father, Siah Yang Tit finished seventh in the Men’s Veteran category.

TNF-MMTF is also the Season Finale for the 2019 Asia Trail Master (ATM) Championship, where the new ATM Champion was also crowned in Taiping. This has enhanced the standard of “ultra-trail” running to a higher level in Malaysia, as there are several title contenders, including a few Malaysian runners, who have been competing for ATM points throughout the year in 14 Asian countries.

Kristian Joergensen, 35, from Denmark was winner for the 84km Men’s Open category after crossing the finish line with a time of 10:22:24. The women’s was won by Veronika Vadovicova, 29, from Slovakia with a timing of 11:34:42. She also collected enough points to seal her position as the new women’s Asia Trail Master Champion. Meanwhile, Australian John Ellis, 41, was crowned the new men’s Asia Trail Master Champion for after a year-long of racing.

The 55km Men’s Open were dominated by Malaysians, Saripin Sumping who won in 07:26:56 followed by Muhammad Abrar Idris and Mohamad Syahmim Nazmy.

TNF-MMTF is co-organized by the MMTF Consultant, Jabatan Perhutanan Negeri Perak, Spritzer, Perdana Global Peace Foundation and Larut Matang Hash House Harriers and Harriets.

The organizers of TNF-MMTF were also eager to promote the state of Perak and Taiping, once ranked Top 3 Sustainable Cities in the world, as a thriving social economy.

RESULTS