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New Straits Times
20-05-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Local hero Aqmal defends Janda Baik Ultra 100km title in brutal conditions
KUALA LUMPUR: National ultra trail-running ace Aqmal Adzmi showed no signs of slowing down as he successfully defended his 100km title at the Janda Baik Ultra, which drew nearly 2,000 participants from 19 countries over the weekend in Bentong. Aqmal clocked 18:33:54s to take top honours in the men's 100km category, holding off a spirited challenge from Japan's Takio Fukumoto (18:57:53), while Zulhusni Ibrahim (19:55:14) completed the podium. "It was much more challenging this year with added distance, elevation, and tricky conditions due to the rain," said Aqmal. "But I enjoyed every bit of it, and winning again here in my hometown of Bentong makes it even more meaningful." Aqmal, who has family ties in nearby Janda Baik, described the race as "a personal affair", and took pride in seeing his "kampung" play host to a major endurance event that showcased the region's natural beauty. "I'm proud that my 'kampung' has an event like this. It really highlights what Janda Baik has to offer — lush forests, stunning scenery, and tough, technical trails. Many fellow runners told me this is probably one of the toughest trail races in Malaysia, and I fully agree." Aqmal also revealed that Janda Baik Ultra was only his second competitive outing of the year, as he's carefully managing his schedule in preparation for the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Spain this September. "I'm trying to stay injury-free and build up properly for Spain. It'll be my second time representing Malaysia at the world meet after competing in Austria in 2023, so I want to give it my best shot," he said. In the women's 100km race, Malaysia's Poo Lai Kuen conquered the trail in 25:55:01, ahead of China's Long Fengju (26:57:44) and Nor Shahirah Nasir (29:41:18). The two-day event, held at the Cherengin Hills Convention and Spa Resort in Janda Baik, also saw spirited contests across the 75km, 50km, 30km, 14km, and 5km categories – each offering its own blend of scenic views, elevation challenges, and unpredictable terrain. Among the other standout performers were Yusof Abdul Manan (13:45:29) and Chiew Mei Theng (18:56:48) in the 75km race, as well as Khairulamirin Kamarudin (7:31:57) and Jenny Lem (10:56:41) in the 50km. Adding to the prestige of the Janda Baik Ultra, participants also earned valuable points toward the International Trail Running Association (ITRA) and Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB) Index — both of which contribute to global rankings and qualification pathways for elite-level trail races worldwide. RESULTS (Overall top three) Men's 100km: 1. Aqmal Adzmi 18:33:54s, 2. Takio Fukumoto (Jpn) 18:57:53, 3. Zulhusni Ibrahim 19:55:14. Women's 100km: 1. Poo Lai Kuen 25:55:01, 2. Long Fengju (Chn) 26:57:44, 3. Nor Shahirah Nasir 29:41:18. Men's 75km: 1. Yusof Abdul Manan 13:45:29, 2. Akmal Mansur 14:01:52, 3. Mohd Hasim 14:10:33. Women's 75km: 1. Chiew Mei Theng 18:56:48, 2. Kam Sin Yee 19:53:18, 3. Loo Mun Chui 19:57:12. Men's 50km: 1. Khairulamirin Kamarudin 7:31:57, 2. Amierul Amin Shamsul Kamal 7:31:58, 3. Johari Mohd Ali 8:19:29.
The Independent
20-05-2025
- The Independent
Meet the women running remote mountain refuges in the wilds of the French Alps
Although mountain refuges have existed in the Alps since ancient times, they started to multiply in the 19th century with the rise in popularity of alpinism. These huts vary in terms of the shelter they offer passing mountaineers but they are always in remote locations, at dizzying altitudes and accessible only by foot. Like me, you probably picture a mountain refuge as a tumbledown stone-built building run by gnarly old hermit with a beard down to his knees, but I was surprised to find out recently that working as a refuge guardian is a role that is increasingly being filled by women. To find out more about what it takes to live in these isolated huts and understand what attracts women to this traditionally male-dominated role, I laced up my walking boots and travelled to the Vallée des Belleville in Savoie where three out of four refuges are now run by women. Refuge Le Nant Brun: Amandine and Violaine My first job upon arrival in the valley was to find out what defines a mountain refuge. 'A place has to be inaccessible to emergency vehicles by road for at least six months a year in order to qualify as a refuge,' Violaine, co-guardian of the Refuge Nant Brun tells me. I look out from the terrace of the traditional alpine house at the soaring green peaks above and the babbling stream below; it's hard to imagine it as a remote outpost in winter. However, the walking route I'd taken through the woods to reach the refuge is snow-covered in winter to the extent that locals decamp from the village entirely because the road through it is an avalanche corridor. Violaine and Amandine opened the refuge last winter. It was a tough season that involved walking with snowshoes and pulling supplies on a sledge each day. Neither did it generate enough trade. For now, the plan is to open from June to the end of September and provide refreshment and overnight stays to hikers, holidaymakers and locals. This isn't Violaine's first refuge rodeo. She has worked in very remote places over the years and says she'd still be doing so if she didn't have children. 'I love waking up each morning in the mountains and the sense of remoteness,' she says. 'In Courchevel, it was very far from the road and if there was accident, there was only a helicopter for rescue.' Violaine and Amandine take it in turns to stay overnight in Nant Brun. It's tough to combine with family life, especially for Violaine whose husband is a shepherd and goes south with this flock for the summer months. Amandine insists that life in a refuge is not as solitary as it sounds: 'People think it's lonely but it's not, especially if you are on a route like the Tour de Tarentaise or the UTMB,' she reveals. 'Often, you have a team and there are visitors every night so it's quite social. ' Refuge Lac du Lou: Coralie and Marie My senses are in overdrive when I begin my second refuge hike; the squeak of a marmot on the left, the taste of blueberries plucked from bushes to my right and the smell of wild thyme ahead. The path from Les Menuires to Lac du Lou is narrow and snakes around the mountain. It's occasionally broken by the crossing of a wooden bridge; other times, it's simply a scramble across a stream. After an hour, I arrive at a beautiful stone and slate house sitting at the end of a turquoise glistening lake. Coralie and Marie are two ex-opticians who met at work in Chamonix and decided to answer the call of the mountains and run a refuge together. In winter, Lac du Lou is accessible by snowshoe, ski touring or off-piste alpine skiing from the top of the Pointe de la Masse gondola, but there's no access by car or groomed pistes. Before coming here, the friends worked in a very remote refuge in Switzerland. According to them, women-run places are becoming more common, even in high-mountain areas. I asked the friends about safety and whether they ever feel vulnerable up here at night. 'We feel safe here but, to honest, we felt safer in previously more isolated refuges where the only danger was the weather,' says Marie. 'Here, we sometimes hear engines of four-wheel quads or motorbikes and we don't know who's out there. That's scarier than no noise at all.' As Coralie shows me around the beautifully furnished dormitories, we talk about the skills needed to keep a refuge running for overnight stays and diners. 'I think women are good at running refuges because they can do everything; it's work that was traditionally done by women, like cleaning and cooking, so we are pretty self-sufficient really,' she says. Refuge du Trait d'Union: Vivianne My final refuge visit was to meet Vivianne. To reach her, I joined a night hike with a guide called Gilles to get there. We meet on the main road in a hamlet called St Marcel and walk straight up the hillside, zig-zagging through high grasses and wild flowers. It's the golden hour when we arrive in a utopia in a clearing on the side of the hill. While I gawp at the wood-fired sauna with a view to die for, one of the group is spontaneously compelled to hug a big old gnarly tree in front of the house. 'It's powerful at the moment,' says host Vivianne, by way of introduction. Gathering us in a circle of deckchairs around a firepit, she serves us local beer, kir and peanuts, before ushering us inside for a feast of diot sausages and crozets pasta in a bechamel sauce followed by velvety chocolate puddings and shots of génépi. When Vivianne and her husband bought the place, it was run down. The couple decided to renovate it together. 'It was only for us,' she explains, 'for spending time with family and friends. It was just for that.' In 2016, Vivianne's husband died suddenly and for a while, all dreams of a happy retirement disappeared. With time, Vivianne returned and now she's happy to welcome guests – skiers in winter and hikers and stargazers in summer – to her wonderful place. 'That's why I called it Trait d'Union; it means hyphen – linking my life before to my life afterwards,' she tells me. Running a refuge is physically demanding, especially in winter when you have to manage heavy snowfall and ice, as well as all the other jobs. For Vivianne, however, it's more than worth it. 'I wanted to give sense to this place after he had gone – and I realised that welcoming people here and making sure they have a good time was a way to keep his memory alive,' she says. Like the other female guardians I meet, Vivianne says she feels safer here in the winter when access by road is completely cut. She has her dog and a co-worker who come to help in the daytimes, and she's happy. She stands to clear the table. 'Physically, we women may not have the strength of men, but we really know how to welcome people,' she winks. I couldn't agree more.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Sandburg alumni win awards
Sandburg has announced the winners of its 2025 alumni awards. Dr. Doug Brining, a 1988 graduate, was selected as the Distinguished Alumnus Award recipient, and Craig Dickerson, a 2017 graduate, received the Pacesetter Award. Brining and Dickerson are also Sandburg's nominees for the Illinois Community College Association's Distinguished Alumnus and Pacesetter awards. The ICCTA award winners will be announced at the organization's banquet June 6 in Normal. 2025 Distinguished Alumnus Award Dr. Doug Brining '88 Dr. Doug Brining is a dedicated leader with exemplary accomplishments that have created a profound impact. He's given extensive time and dedication to the field of science and veterinary research while collaborating on the examination of the world's most infectious diseases. Brining has published 40 articles, served on more than 20 committees and has performed numerous exploratory surgical procedures. In high school, Brining believed his counselor when told he wasn't college material. A first-generation college student, Brining enrolled at Sandburg as a chance to meet people, but he soon realized his passion for science. Brining found himself enrolling in all science classes offered by the biology instructor who gave inspiration to his studies. Brining graduated from Sandburg with an Associate in Science in 1988. Though still not convinced he was college material, Brining's friends encouraged him to apply and continue at a four-year institution. Brining earned two bachelor's degrees and later his doctorate from Texas A&M University. Brining now holds four employment titles with the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. He serves as assistant vice president for research administration (animal programs), executive director of UTMB's Animal Resources Center, attending veterinarian and assistant professor of microbiology and immunology. In addition to his work at UTMB, Brining is a diplomate of the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine. 'It would be difficult for me to overstate the influence and importance that my time at Carl Sandburg College had on both my future academic and professional career,' Brining said. 'Over 35 years have passed since my time there, and I've often shared how much I benefited by attending community college. When I started my coursework there, I truly didn't have a specific end goal in mind and would have never imagined the journey this foundational decision would set in motion.' 'At Carl Sandburg College, I developed fundamental academic skills and discovered the joy of learning for the sake of interest,' he added. 'I clearly remember the quality of the professors and their dedication and enthusiasm about the subjects they taught. Their excitement and passion were genuinely contagious. It was there I developed an intense interest in biology and life sciences, which led me to a career in marine biology, veterinary medicine and academic research. I'll be forever thankful about my decision to attend and for the powerful influence that choice had on my life.' 2025 Pacesetter Award Craig Dickerson '17 As someone who prioritizes goals and is dedicated to making them a reality, Craig Dickerson exemplifies what it means to be a pacesetter. While a student at Sandburg, Dickerson worked as a supervisor at a local restaurant to assist with paying for college. He was also an NAACP member, participated in Relay for Life, volunteered for La Grace Hall of Hope, presented at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day breakfast and was active in Men of Distinction. After graduating from Sandburg in 2017 with an associate degree, Dickerson earned his bachelor's in sales and marketing from Illinois State University. In 2019, Dickerson began work for Verizon as a retail specialist. Early in his career, he set the goal of joining Verizon's Learning and Development team. Dickerson was named to Verizon's Diamond Club in 2022 and recognized as a premier senior account manager the following year. Last September, Dickerson achieved his goal of becoming as a senior trainer with the company's Learning and Development team. In addition to working for Verizon, Dickerson has worked at Staples, ESPN3, Scope Health & Fitness and for the Peoria County government. 'I wouldn't be where I am or who I am today without the experiences I had during my time at Carl Sandburg College,' Dickerson said. 'Being born and raised in Galesburg, you sometimes aren't exposed to all the world has to offer or have the chance to interact with people who are vastly different from you. However, while attending Sandburg I was able to partner, befriend and be supported by individuals from places like Scotland, Brazil, Jamaica and multiple states, giving me the opportunity to see what life was like outside of a small town and all that I could do. 'Sandburg gave me the time to mature, grow and get to know myself in a way I didn't know possible, and for that, I will be forever grateful. I had the pleasure of taking dual credit classes while attending high school and being exposed to higher education at an early age. During this time, I knew I wasn't quite ready to leave home. Sandburg gave me a home for the next two years until I knew I was prepared and ready to take on my undergraduate degree at Illinois State University. After graduating from ISU in 2019, I've been successful in climbing the corporate ladder and moving across the country to Denver. I wouldn't have been able to accomplish all the things I have without the love and support Sandburg gave me.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
BBC News
29-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
London Marathon: How ultrarunner's viral moment inspired change
Sophie Power had not even laced up her trainers for her first run when she signed up to an what was initially a fresh challenge after being made redundant has manifested into a life-changing passion that has led to positive change for women in 2018, a photograph of Power breastfeeding her then three-month-old son during a 106-mile race went had been no option for her to defer her place until she was fit to compete and it highlighted what she saw as a major issue facing women and many of the world's biggest events, including the London Marathon, have implemented pregnancy deferral policies and Power's work has been central to that change. A starting dilemma Power signed up for her first 250km (155-mile) ultramarathon at the age of 26, shortly after having been made redundant from her job in she was not a runner and never had been, a friend had recently completed the challenge himself and recommended she try it, as he believed she could have the stamina needed due to her time in the air squadron at university."I went for my first run the next day and realised pretty quickly that I loved ultra-running. I love being outside, the breadth of phenomenal people you meet [who] you wouldn't come across in everyday life," the 42-year-old, who lives near Guildford in Surrey, told BBC Sport."And really kind of pushing my body to the limits in a new way."Immediately hooked, Power devoted her time to training and travelling to compete in stage races around after the birth of her second child, Cormac, she was faced with a dilemma. Having given up her entry to the iconic Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB) race while she recovered from the birth of her first child, Donnacha, three years before, she was not prepared to do so many races, UTMB had no pregnancy deferral policy at the not being able to run so soon postpartum, Power entered the 106-mile event with a view to starting and maybe walking the first 43.5 hours after setting off she completed the challenge, that included 10,000m of climbing, inside the cut-off time, walking the whole way except for a short stretch after one of the highest points when she was worried she might get hyperthermia. She crossed the line with then three-year-old moment is one she looks back on with immense pride, though it was a photograph of her taken with her younger son that day that would inspire what followed. The image that helped spark change French photographer Alexis Berg was at UTMB photographing the 2018 race, as he is at many ultra events. And it was at one of the refuelling stations that he saw something he had never previously seen at one of these events."I knew it was unusual. At that moment it was impossible to realise the photo would have such an impact, but I just pushed one button that day and everything else that has happened is because of Sophie," he he captured was Power sitting down and breastfeeding her baby son during a break from the race."That photo has undoubtedly changed the course of my life. I worked out I should never have been on that start line," she said."I should have been given the opportunity to complete that kind of dream race when I was fit and healthy, not three months postpartum, trying to go 106 miles around a huge mountain by breastfeeding my baby. It was crazy." Power wanted to ensure returning mums did not face the same choice and put their bodies through the same risk as she had founded the charity SheRaces with the core aim of breaking down barriers preventing women from entering events alongside men and safeguarding returning the photo went viral, many male directors contacted her almost immediately to say they had added pregnancy deferrals to their programmes and expressed embarrassment that it was something they had not thought of engaged with more than 2,000 women to find out what prevented them from getting on the start line of races alongside research went far beyond elite level sport. Power is not a professional athlete herself and her real passion is for other women and girls who had been like her."Girls drop out of sport at such a high rate. There's a massive dream deficit for girls compared to boys," she believes a big reason for this is the language used when promoting sports and sporting events."It's 'hardest, toughest, baddest', and for a lot of women that's quite off-putting," she said."How do we redesign sport in a female lens? Can we make sure that the opportunities for girls are tailored to them, and what they want and sports provided in the right places in the right way?" 'Winning battles and driving change' The result of her research was a set of nine principles that organisers could commit to in order to make their events more inclusive for included adapting the use of language and imagery on websites to reflect and appeal to female runners, changing cut-off times, providing female toilets, period products, changing facilities and event T-shirts made specifically for female entrants, rather than unisex ones for all, and a safeguarding and harassment for elite races includes equal exposure for the female race on social media coverage and prizes for female has seen change in some of the world's biggest policy, external since 2023 for some of its marquee events entitles those who are pregnant, have a pregnant partner or are adopting or birthing via surrogacy to a full refund and priority re-entry for up to five she says there is still a long way to go. The New York, Boston and London marathons now all have pregnancy deferrals in place, yet mothers must pay the entrance fee for a second time when they use the deferral scheme, she charity's criteria requests races to implement a two-year deferral to allow people enough time to recover fully from their pregnancies."The majority of races are commercial, it's a business. If they can get more people on their start lines then they're going to do it and the purpose of the guidelines is they're almost non-cost. It's a no-brainer," she said."There are a lot of brands out there who say they are pro-women, yet they're sponsoring women's races that don't have pregnancy deferrals, that don't treat women equally."And then there are dinosaurs, they don't value the voice of female athletes."Then there are races that still need to make improvements, I put London Marathon in that bracket. They have listened to us, they are phenomenally inclusive, they've got loads of initiatives that they put out for diversity on their start lines, but they still want to make women pay twice for their place when they have a baby."I've definitely lost faith in some race organisers because of it but so many are changing and becoming better. You always feel like you fail at the battles you don't win but we're winning so many battles and driving so much change."The London Marathon's policy, external allows entrants to defer for up to three years after giving birth. The event's organisers did not respond when asked why users of the deferral system must pay their entrance fee again. Pushing her body to new limits As the scale of her work and its influence has grown, Power's propensity for testing her physical limits has grown with is now the holder of two Guinness world records - becoming the fastest woman to run the length of Ireland, last completed the gruelling 340-mile route in three days 12 hours and eight minutes, smashing the previous record set by Mimi Anderson by more than three route took her through Munster, where husband John was born, and to County Cork, where many of the Power family live, running through torrential rainfall, experiencing the early stages of sun stroke and sleeping for little more than two hours, while sustaining herself on a diet of jam-filled tortilla wraps, gels, chews and ice tongue was burned after two days of eating nothing but fruit and sweets. She pushed herself to the brink of total exhaustion."I was seeing nativity and Christmas scenes everywhere in this town. And all the trees had turned into plastic. The hallucinations were phenomenal, crazy," she has since gone on to set a second world record for the longest distance covered on a treadmill by a female in 48 hours and has once again been selected for Great Britain in the 24-hour World Championships in France this will also be hosting her own women-only ultra races in the Peak District in how will she know when she has achieved what she set out to do?"My ultimate goal for SheRaces is that we don't exist because it's not needed anymore and every woman is able to get on the start line," she added."Part of the reason I created it was to have something that wasn't just me and was owned by all women. We can all help each other and demand fairness."
