For Spaniard Aritz Egea and Ragna Debats from the Netherlands, it was a dream come true yesterday, winning and smashing the race records in the Olympus Marathon, fourth leg of the 2017 Migu Run Skyrunner® World Series Sky Classic category.
For both runners, active on the Skyrunner® World Series since 2012 and 2013 respectively, it was a first-time win. Consistently placing in the top five, top ten ranking, their determination has finally paid off and their talent has shone through.
Egea crushed the 2008 record closing a good 7’ faster in 4h24’26”. Yesterday, he flew over the course beating the two three-time winners, Greek Dimitrios Theodorakakos and Spaniard Jessed Hernandez, who held the previous record. He continues to lead the Sky Classic ranking, enjoying his day of immortality on the “Mountain of the Gods”.
“I’m very, very happy and enjoyed the race from the beginning to the end. Well, actually the last four kilometres were hell, very hot. I’m very happy because I won, I beat the record and mostly, because I enjoyed the race,” Egea said.
Debats, like Egea, led from start to finish, summiting the mountain first and crossing the finish line at record-breaking speed slicing more than three minutes off the record set by American Stevie Kremer in 2016. Her closing time was 5h18’20”.
“It was a good day, I am very happy with the victory,” she commented. “I’ve had many races recently and next I have High Trail Vanoise and then Tromso SkyRace® – I will need to make sure I plan some rest but I am feeling good.”
Spaniard Laura Sola placed second and, in third, American Hillary Allen who currently leads the Sky Ultra ranking and is aiming for the *Overall Champion title.
After yesterday’s win, Debats now climbs to second position on the Sky Classic ranking which is still led by Spaniard Maite Maiora after two straight wins. American Megan Kimmel drops to third.
Egea continues his lead atop the men’s ranking, while Bulgarian Kiril Nikolov rises to second and Spaniard Julen Larruzea slides to third.
900 participants took part in yesterday’s 14th edition of the Olympus Marathon, for the first time on the Migu Run Skyrunner® World Series. The race falls in the Sky Classic category with a punishing 3,200m vertical climb over a 44 km course. The point to point course ascends close to the summit of Mount Olympus, a UNESCO World Heritage site, to finish through a 14 km canyon in the resort of Litochoro.
Just around the corner is the fifth test of the eleven-race Sky Classic, the Buff® Epic Trail 42K on July 8 in Barruera, Spain where top skyrunners will gather for the challenge.
Mount Olympus race results
Men
- Artiz Egea (ESP) 4h24’26”
- Jessed Hernandex (ESP) – 4h43’12”
- Kiril Nikolov (BUL) – 4h44’32”
- Dimitrios Theodorakakos (GRE) – 4h46’13”
- Julen Martinez (ESP) – 4h48’23”
Women
- Ragna Debats (NED) – 5h18’20”
- Laura Sola de Miguel (ESP) – 5h32’05”
- Hillary Allen (USA) 5h37’13”
- Glykeria Tziatzia (GRE) – 5h46’04”
- Cecilia Pedroni (ITA) – 6h06’02”
*Overall Champion title is based on at least one race in each category
