In the Men´s division, Hideaki Yamauchi (JPN) took home the gold running the 100km in a time of 6:18:22. Bongmusa Mthembu (RSA) finished 2nd in 6:24:06 and Patrick Reagan (USA) finished in bronze medal spot running 6:35:42.
The men´s race started off very fast with the five person South African contingent running under the world record pace that stands at 6:13:33 by Takahiro Sunada from Japan. But the several tight turns on the loop eventually slowed the leading runners down and allowed the chase group to catch them.
South African teammates Ludwick Mamabolo and Rufus Photo took turns leading the race up until the halfway point followed by the three-man group comprising of their teammates, David Gatebe, Bongmusa Mthembu and Gift Kelehe. Yamauchi and Reagan were on the other hand running a different tactical race choosing not to run up with the lead group but keep them within visual distance.
It was not until 60km that Yamauchi started to make his move entering Top 5 and slowly moving up. It was in the last lap that Yamauchi went past Mthembu to grab top honours and become the world champion. Reagan waited until the 85km mark to start moving up the field and striking hard in the last lap winning bronze.
In the women´s division, Kirstin Bull (AUS) became the world champion with a time of 7:34:25. Nikolina Sustic (CRO) finished in the silver medal spot with 7:36:10 and Joasia Zakrzewski (GBR) finished third in 7:41:38.
The women´s race was run with a different strategy in mind. The top 3 finishers in the race were in the mix from the very start running in leading position after the very first lap. Kim Mulder (NED) set a fast pace at the start and led the race until the 55km mark when Bull went by her taking Zakrzewski behind her and Sustic buying her time in 4th.
Bull had steady command in the front with Sustic and Zakrzewski playing back and forth for the remainder of the race. The Croatian ultimately had more speed in her legs going past Zakrzewski at the 80km mark getting the silver medal.
In the team competition, South Africa won the men´s division in 19:51:40. Japan finished in second place with 19:55:46 followed by The United States of America in third running 20:03:04. In the women´s division, Japan won the team competition running 23:23:14. Croatia finished second in 23:48:19 and United States of America finished in bronze medal with 24:05:33.
Nadeem Khan
Director of Communications
nadeem.khan@iau-ultramarathon.org
Results 29th IAU 100km World Championships
Top 5 Men
1. Hideaki Yamauchi JPN 6:18:22
2. Bongmusa Mthembu RSA 6:24:06
3. Patrick Reagan USA 6:35:42
4. Tomasz Walerowicz POL 6:37:23
5. Geoff Burns USA 6:38:34
Top 5 Women:
1. Kirstin Bull AUS 7:34:25
2. Nikolina Sustic CRO 7:36:10
3. Joasia Zakrzewski GBR 7:41:38
4. Karin Freitag AUT 7:45:58
5. Mikiko Ota JPN 7:47:38
Top 5 Men´s Team:
1. Republic of South Africa 19:51:40
2. Japan 19:55:46
3. United States of America 20:03:04
4. Norway 20:39:06
5. Australia 20:55:44
Top 5 Women´s Team:
1. Japan 23:23:14
2. Croatia 23:48:19
3. United States of America 24:05:33
4. Canada 24:39:53
5. France 24:46:58
