Filipino Trail Runner Onifa Makes ATM History with Second Title in Hong Kong
HONG KONG – Filipino athlete John Ray “Stingray” Onifa etched his name in the record books as the first two-time champion of the Asia Trail Master (ATM) series, claiming victory in the men’s Season 10 Championship Final of the 9 Dragons Ultra held in Hong Kong, China, from Feb. 28 to March 1, 2026.
Onifa completed the grueling 72-kilometer course with 3,800 meters of elevation gain in 8 hours, 6 minutes, and 38 seconds, solidifying his reputation as one of Asia’s premier trail runners. He outpaced Lodewijk Virens of Hong Kong and Japan’s Hiroki Kai, who took second and third place respectively. Onifa first won the ATM series in 2023.
“Salamat sa mga sumuporta. We started at 1 a.m., and the course was slippery due to rain,” Onifa shared.
The victory caps off a strong 2025 season, highlighted by a win in the 9 Dragons 50/50 race in Hong Kong. In March 2025, the Antique native successfully defended his title at the Vietnam Ultra Marathon (VUM) 75km race in Mai Chau, marking his 15th ATM race triumph and earning a wild card entry to the championship finale.
In October 2024, Onifa led the Philippine squad to a second-place finish at the Asia Pacific Trail Running Championships in Ulju, South Korea, where he captured gold in the men’s 40-kilometer short trail race with a time of 3:47:00. He also made history in 2022 as the first Filipino to compete in the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships.
Other Filipino athletes shone at the 9 Dragons ATM: Joebert Elmaguin won the Ultra 50 Miles category in 10:26:47, while Arns Acarenas finished second in the Ultra 72km event. Nepal’s Priya Rai took the women’s title, and Team Japan claimed the ATM Team Championship, surpassing rival squads from Hong Kong and the Philippines.
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