The IAU is organizing its 2nd 50km World Trophy Final on August 29th 2010 in Galway, Ireland.
The race field assembled is one of the fastest 50kers starts list of all times. With seven male athletes having run under 3 hours and another seven female athletes under 3h 40min, the race promises to be an exciting and a fast one.
We will carry Live Updates on our site, please tune in to http://www.iau-ultramarathon.org For interviews on-site, click under “Athletes” section.
This is the 1st time that IAU has held an international IAU event in Ireland. Next year,
Connemara is hosting the 3rd IAU World Trail Challenge. The 50km World Trophy Final
is taking place under the leadership of the Galway City Marathon & 50km.
The City of Galway is situated on the west coast of Ireland and is one of the fastest
growing cities in the nation. It is a short 2 hour drive from Dublin and is known as
Ireland’s Cultural Heart.
There were thirteen selection races held from Canada and Argentina to Japan and
Australia to select athletes for the World Trophy Final. The criteria for selection included
a sub 3:20 (men) and sub 3:50 (women) run. The winners of the series races were
automatically selected and following the preliminary selections the fastest finishers were
invited until the selection pool was filled. In addition a few runners had invitations
extended on the basis of their marathon times.
The race is organized on two half marathon loops followed by four short loops around the
centre of the city to complete the 50km. The course is undulating but with lengthy flat
sections. The most challenging part of the course is a hill present at 13km (and again at
34km) that is a kilometre long.
In addition to the 50km World Trophy Final, the race organizers are also running an
Open 50km event and the inaugural marathon.
With the top seven male runners having run under 3 hours and another top seven women
run under 3:40, this race promises to be an exciting one.
Top Men:
1) Joseph Mphuthi RSA 2:50:09
2) Collen Makaza ZIM 2:50:45
3) Sandile Ngunuzza RSA 2:53:14
4) Peter Muthubi RSA 2:53:51
5) Michael Wardian USA 2:55:50
Last years’ winner of the Final (in Gibraltar) is also present: Lucas Nonyana RSA 2:58:03
Top Women:
1) Irene Kalter NED 3:32:54
2) Helen Taranowski GBR 3:35:54
3) Paola Sanna ITA 3:35:56
4) Monica Carlin ITA 3:37:10
5) Mary Coordt USA 3:38:00
Nadeem Khan
IAU Director of Communications
nadeem.khan