Paul Machoka celebrates victory at Tatra Fest (© Malgosia Photography for Tatra Fest)
Scout Adkin and Paul Machoka achieved assertive victories at Tatra Fest, part of the Mountain Running World Cup, in Zakopane, Poland, on Sunday (15).
Tatra Fest takes place under the watchful eye of Giewont, the ‘sleeping knight’. Towering above the town is a huge massif, famously resembling a recumbent knight in armour. This, along with a 27km course with 1700m of ascent, was capable of striking fear into the runners.
Adding to the already challenging terrain, including sections over 2000m and some technical ground, the runners also had a cloudless sky and some hot conditions to contend with.
Great Britain’s World Cup leader Adkin was the firm favourite for the women, but with such a technical course it wasn’t clear how much local knowledge would be an advantage. There were some strong local women in the field, capable of challenging for the podium.
There were also many international contenders, including Spaniards Florencia Milanesi and Maria Constanza Begliardo, plus Canadian Adele Blaise.
But Adkin showed her dominance straight from the start and gradually increased her advantage. She took the win in 2:50:36 to add to her victory at Zmeu X Fest and two second places at Vertical and Trofeo Nasego so far this World Cup.
Polish runner Weronika Matuszczak took a strong second place in 2:56:06, with Polish ski mountaineering champion Iwona Januszyk, who lives on the race route, finishing third in 3:02:45.
Like the women’s race, the men’s event featured two clear favourites and a number of strong local runners, with Kenya’s Kevin Kibet and Machoka the athletes to beat. Machoka started as the World Cup leader thanks to his win at Zmeu X Fest and two second places at Vertical and Trofeo Nasego. Kibet was a close runner-up at Zmeu X Fest.
Unsurprisingly it was Kibet and Machoka who struck out very early on. Machoka took an emphatic win in 2:22:16, with Kibet second in 2:26:14. The race for third was eventually won by Poland’s Marcel Fabian in 2:33:50.
Kirsty Reade (WMRA) for World Athletics
