Trail running in Olympics? Philippines ready to answer the call

MANILA, Philippines – If trail running makes its way to the Olympics, the Philippines is ready. Molded by mountains, heat, and tough trails, Filipinos are already answering the call.

Trail running is deep into a 10-year push for inclusion in the Brisbane 2032 Olympics and the Philippines is keeping pace. Since forming in 2022, the Philippine Trail Running Association (PhilTRA) has already produced world-level athletes, aligning its rise with the sport’s Olympic bid.

“There is an Olympic ambition for the global proponents of trail running and that is in Brisbane 2032,” PhilTRA president Tin Ferrera said. “So, we want to be ready when it becomes an Olympic sport.”

This year, the sport hopes to be shortlisted for consideration in the 2032 Brisbane, which boasts mountainous ranges around its city. 

According to trailrunning.org.au, 2026 is a key year as national federations like PhilTRA are set to formally back the sport’s push for Olympic inclusion ahead of 2032.

By 2027, a decision for its inclusion will be made by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

“Hence, all these preparations. So, the challenge also for us is that we are trying to get athletes across the Philippines. Grassroots, as you can see, Baguio, Davao, Antique — we’re doing things to find more athletes,” Ferrera said. 

In its four-year run, the PhilTRA has developed stars like John Ray Onifa, Arnie Macañeras, Larry Apolinario, Romnick Tongkaling, and Elizabeth Dangadang, all of whom hail from mountain ranges across the country. 

“We believe we have some of the best trail runners in the Philippines and in Asia. They have been household names but we think these guys can still up their games, and possibly be a medalist, if ever an Olympic event comes through,” Ferrera said. 

Filipino trail runners delivered strong results in the Hong Kong 100 Ultra Marathon from January 22 to 25, logging multiple top-10 finishes across various distances and reinforcing the country’s growing presence in the international trail scene.

Onifa led the charge with a fifth-place finish in the grueling 100-kilometer race, followed by Dangadang at eighth in the same event. Tongkaling placed eighth in the 50-kilometer run, while Macañeras added another top-five result with a fifth-place finish in the 30-kilometer race.

This year, the team will also be competing in the Asia Trail Master in February, UTMB World Cup, Southeast Asian Trail Running Cup in July, and the Asia Pacific Trail Running Championships in November. 

“We hope every athlete we discover can be exposed to international competition to hopefully raise their level,” Ferrera, a trail runner herself, said. “We are also hoping for our grassroots program to be more robust and once our athletes get ripe, we can bring them to international trail runs to test them against other foreigners.”

Ferrera said one major hurdle is equipping new trail runners, recalling how Tongkaling started without proper shoes and had to borrow a pair from a teammate just to train.

“What we’re proud of is when we look at the qualified athletes for every championship, these are people we don’t know. These are athletes that have so much potential,” she said. “But unfortunately, sometimes, these are athletes who sometimes do not have the means to join, to play the sports.”

“For us to create a world-class athlete, you evolve, you discover the best method, the best recruitment method, and the best training program. So, we continuously try to evolve.”

For now, Ferrera wants PhilTRA to deepen ties with mountain communities, turning local terrain into a breeding ground for trail runners and boosting the country’s standing in the sport.

“We know we can do more but we can only do so much. It is important for us to be more active on the ground and find the new crop of talents in the country,” she said.

“There has been a growing interest and we want to tap that. Filipinos especially in mountainous regions are very curious about the sport. We want to be able to see their potential and possibly give them a spot in our team.” – Rappler.com