Africa’s leading female trail athletes sparkled on mountain trails in Europe over the weekend, with South African Toni McCann racing to a record-breaking victory at the La Sportiva Lavaredo Ultra Trail 50km by UTMB at Cortina d’Ampezzo in the Italian Dolomites and Kenyans Joyline Chepngeno and Faith Kiplagat snatching victories at the Mont Blanc Marathon and Half Marathon in the French Alps.
South African, Bianca Tarboton, raced a close second to Kiplagat over 23km at Mont Blanc, run from Chamonix, while another Kenyan Nashon Kiplimo, flew the flag for the men, taking overall honours in that race.
While neither, McCann nor Tarboton (both adidas TERREX athletes) felt adequately prepared – McCann recovering from a self-confessed ‘training slump and burn-out’ and Tarboton fighting her way back after a nagging foot injury – both ran above expectations to give their season a substantial boost.
McCann finished 11th overall in a course record of 4:45:12, 43 minutes behind the overall winner, Francesco Puppi of Italy, and nine minutes clear of second-placed woman, Ukranian Sofiia Porokhnavets. Ivana Liskova of Slovakia finished third, a further 15 minutes back.
“Not sure how I pulled this one out the bag,” posted McCann on her Instagram site. “But a combination of the Wicked soundtrack, many carbs, the best support and cheers, and a choice few firm words with myself got me through. Plus many hours of preparation – it doesn’t always have to ‘feel’ perfect to be enough.”
Chepngeno (Millimani Runners Salomon) made a spectacular entry to trail last year, winning the competitive Sierra Zinal 30km in Switzerland and the final of the Golden Trail World Series in Italy, and continued where she left off, defeating Swiss favourite, Judith Wyder (Hoka / Redbull), by just 68 seconds in the Mont Blanc Marathon on Sunday, winning in 4:15:20. British athlete Naomi Lang was a further minute back in third.
Kiplimo won the 23km in 2:02:41, holding off French athlete Simon Paccard by just 1 min 50 sec with Paccard’s compatriot, Thomas Butez, third.
Tarboton was the only athlete to challenge Kiplagat in the women’s race, but in the end the Kenyan proved too strong, winning in 2:28:09, just over three minutes clear of the South African, who clocked 2:31:46. Spanish athlete Greta Garcia Moran trailed nine minutes in third
Kiplagat led from the start in the Mont Blanc 23km, winning in 2:28:09 with Tarboton delighted with her second place in 2:31:46.
“It was good!” Tarboton exclaimed. “Considering I’ve not trained much since Tarawera, I was very happy and surprised! I am glad I could finally have a good race in Europe – it feels like I’m slowly starting to figure it out and find my place here.
“I’m proud of this one for many reasons but mostly for showing myself that “I can”. After months of uncertainty and frustration, I got to the start and finish line and managed to pull off a good race through it all.”
