Lucas Nonyana of South Africa in action (© Johan Britz)
Gibraltar is the site of the final race in the International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU) calendar – the 50 km Trophy Final - on Saturday 31 October.
Athletes were selected on the basis of 50km races organized around the world. Lucas Nonyana (RSA) and Kami Semick (USA) are the men’s and women’s leaders going into the race.
Gibraltar, a nation of close to 30,000 people, is one of IAU’s newest members. It is located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar.
Athletes for the Trophy Final were selected from fourteen races organized around the world as part of the 50 km Trophy Final series races. Winners in each event under the qualification mark of 3:20 for men and 3:50 for women received an automatic selection to the race. In the event of open spots the next set of runners under the qualification mark were asked to participate from these races.
In this year’s edition, the men’s leader is Nonyana (RSA) who qualified at the Om Die Dam 50 km in South Africa with a leading time of 2:55:50. He is followed by Michael Wardian (USA) who ran his qualification in the Caumsett 50km with a time of 2:56:36. Bringing up the third spot is Bitki Jantjies (RSA) who also qualified in Om Die Dam behind Nonyana in 2:57:20.
In the women’s race, 2009 IAU 100 km World Cup winner Semick (USA) is leading, having qualified with a time of 3:29:20 in Caumsett. Behind Kami is, 3rd place finisher from the 100 km World Cup, Monica Carlin (ITA) who ran 3:31:41 achieved in the Romagna 50 km. In the third place is Verity Tolhurst (AUS) with 3:39:00 run in Canberra.
This year’s race takes place on a relatively flat loop course consisting of five 10km laps. There are a few hills on the course but the race still promises to be a fast event.
In addition to the world event, the race organizers are also running an Open race for athletes who have not qualified under the selection criteria and by partaking in the event still have an opportunity to win the race.
This is one of the rare opportunities where several fast 50k runners from around the world have all assembled at a world event. The race is shaping up to be a very competitive one.
Leading Athletes -
Men’s competition:
1) Lucas Nonyana RSA 2:55:50
2) Michael Wardian USA 2:56:36
3) Bitki Janjies USA 2:57:20
4) Daniel Oralek CZE 2:58:36
5) Antonio Armuzzi ITA 3:03:00
Women’s competition:
1) Kami Semick USA 3:29:20
2) Monica Carlin ITA 3:31:41
3) Verity Tolhurst AUS 3:39:00
4) Heather Founding-Hawker GBR 3:41:11
5) Jill Perry USA 3:41:21
Nadeem Khan for the IAAF
Athletes were selected on the basis of 50km races organized around the world. Lucas Nonyana (RSA) and Kami Semick (USA) are the men’s and women’s leaders going into the race.
Gibraltar, a nation of close to 30,000 people, is one of IAU’s newest members. It is located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula overlooking the Strait of Gibraltar.
Athletes for the Trophy Final were selected from fourteen races organized around the world as part of the 50 km Trophy Final series races. Winners in each event under the qualification mark of 3:20 for men and 3:50 for women received an automatic selection to the race. In the event of open spots the next set of runners under the qualification mark were asked to participate from these races.
In this year’s edition, the men’s leader is Nonyana (RSA) who qualified at the Om Die Dam 50 km in South Africa with a leading time of 2:55:50. He is followed by Michael Wardian (USA) who ran his qualification in the Caumsett 50km with a time of 2:56:36. Bringing up the third spot is Bitki Jantjies (RSA) who also qualified in Om Die Dam behind Nonyana in 2:57:20.
In the women’s race, 2009 IAU 100 km World Cup winner Semick (USA) is leading, having qualified with a time of 3:29:20 in Caumsett. Behind Kami is, 3rd place finisher from the 100 km World Cup, Monica Carlin (ITA) who ran 3:31:41 achieved in the Romagna 50 km. In the third place is Verity Tolhurst (AUS) with 3:39:00 run in Canberra.
This year’s race takes place on a relatively flat loop course consisting of five 10km laps. There are a few hills on the course but the race still promises to be a fast event.
In addition to the world event, the race organizers are also running an Open race for athletes who have not qualified under the selection criteria and by partaking in the event still have an opportunity to win the race.
This is one of the rare opportunities where several fast 50k runners from around the world have all assembled at a world event. The race is shaping up to be a very competitive one.
Leading Athletes -
Men’s competition:
1) Lucas Nonyana RSA 2:55:50
2) Michael Wardian USA 2:56:36
3) Bitki Janjies USA 2:57:20
4) Daniel Oralek CZE 2:58:36
5) Antonio Armuzzi ITA 3:03:00
Women’s competition:
1) Kami Semick USA 3:29:20
2) Monica Carlin ITA 3:31:41
3) Verity Tolhurst AUS 3:39:00
4) Heather Founding-Hawker GBR 3:41:11
5) Jill Perry USA 3:41:21
Nadeem Khan for the IAAF