Kenyans dominate Grossglockner
In weather all to familiar for northern Europe this summer, Geoffrey Ndungu showed that the cold and wet was no obstacle as he took a comfortable victory in the Austrian rain at the classic mountain race that is Grossglockner Berglauf...
He was chased home by Run2Gether team-mates Isaak Kosgei and Thomas Lokomwa, ensuring a podium sweep for Kenya. Only 6-time world champion Jonathan Wyatt was able to get close, finishing in fourth place, one better than his effort of 2011.
There was a great representation from the UK amongst the 1000 starters including James McMullan, Ben Abdelnoor and Adam Osborne in the men’s race, with Kate Goodhead and Anna Lupton in the ladies race.
(L-R) Matt Hobbs, James McMullan and Adam Osbourne
From the outset it was clear that the African contingent were out to make things hard for the international competition, which also included women’s 2011 world mountain running champion Kasie Enman and European silver medalist from the same year Antonella Confortola.
Pulling away in the second half of the 12.7km race Ndungu extended his lead over the final two kilometres to take the win by just over a minute (1:12:11) from Kosgei (1:13:16), with Lokomwa (1:15:44) doing just enough in third ahead of New Zealander Wyatt (1:16:00). Kenya’s Robert Surum (1:17:34) completed the top 5.
Grossglockner winner Geoffrey Ndungu
Jono Wyatt
The Brits acquitted themselves well in this race which takes in almost 1500 metres of ascent. James McMullan finished a very strong 8th (1:19:11), with Adam Osbourne in 11th (1:21.27) being run very close by fell-man Ben Abdelnoor (1:21:38) in 12th. Dark Peak Fell Runners Rob Baker (1:22:40) and John Rocke (1:25:17) were inside the top 20, with Matthew Hobbs in 33rd.
The women’s race saw yet more success for Kenya as Lucy Murigi was a clear winner. Her time of 1:27:12 was almost three minutes to the good, ahead of Austria’s Sabine Reiner in second and Antonella Confortola in third. Bristol’s Kate Goodhead ran a great race for fourth on the day in 1:31:51.
World champ Enman had a hard day on the Austrian mountains in 6th (1:32:57), with Briton Anna Lupton (1:36:57) finishing 9th.
Some nice images online here, with full results now online here
