Jez Bragg (ENG) - IAU (© c)
The 1st Commonwealth Mountain and Ultra Distance Championship takes place in Keswick in the heart of Cumbria, in the English Lake District from 17 – 20 September 2009.
The ultra events include a 24 hour run on 17 September and 100km run on 19 September. Martin Fryer (AUS) and Sharon Gayter (ENG) with distances of 247.187 km and 219.178 in the 24 hour lead the men’s and women’s field respectively. Dominic Croft (ENG) and Emma Gooderham (ENG) with times of 7:21:45 and 8:03:11 in the 100km run lead the men’s and women’s field respectively.
Over 200 selected athletes from 14 Federations will run the two ultra races (24 hour and 100km) and two mountain races (Up-Hill and Up- & Down-Mountain).
24 Hour Ultradistance Run
The 24 hour event features several top runners from the commonwealth nations some of who have participated in the International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU) 24 hour World Challenges.
Martin Fryer (AUS) leads the men’s field with a distance of 247.187 km followed by Chris Finill (ENG) and Stephen Mason (SCO) with distances of 243.238km and 239.396km respectively. Fryer has been one of the most consistent 24 hour runners in the world in the last few years.
In the women’s field, long time English runner, Sharon Gayter (ENG) comes in as the top entrant with a distance of 219.178 km. She is followed by Vicky Skelton (ENG) who has run 211.986 km and Valerie Muskett (NZL) who has completed 205.140 km. Sharon is fresh from an outstanding finish at Badwater.
The Australian men’s team is always a powerhouse in the 24 hour runs but the English women’s team is without doubt the strongest coming into the Championship.
100 km Ultradistance run
The 100km race is scheduled for 19 September and Jez Bragg (ENG) is leading the men’s entry list with a time of 6:58. In March he won the Celtic 100 km run. He is followed closely by teammates Dominic Croft (ENG) in 7:21:45 and Matt Giles (ENG) in 7:28:54.
In the women’s race, Emma Gooderham (ENG) a relatively newcomer to the sport of ultrarunning leads with 8:03:11. She is followed by Scottish runner Lucy Colquhoun (SCO) in 8:09:24 and her teammate Heather Founding-Hawker (ENG) in 8:20:09
In both the men’s and women’s 100km, The English teams look very strong unless the Australian men’s and the Scottish women’s teams can pull an upset.
Alongside the International event, there is also an open event for the mountain races and a 10km race that will be organized during the course of the competition.
Nadeem Khan (IAU) for the IAAF
Top Athletes in the events (times/distances based on 2008-2009 competitions)
24hr (men):
Martin Fryer AUS 247.187 km
Chris Finill ENG 243.238km
Stephen Mason SCO 239.396km
24hr (women):
Sharon Gayter ENG 219.178 km
Vicky Skelton ENG 211.986 km
Valery Muskett NZL 205.140 km
100km (men):
Jez Bragg ENG 6:58:00
Dominic Croft ENG 7:21:45
Matt Giles ENG 7:28:54
100km (women):
Emma Gooderham ENG 8:03:11
Lucy Colquhoun SCO 8:09:24
Heather Foundling-Hawker ENG 8:20:09