The start of the IAU 100km Asian Championship (© Freelance)
In the early morning of Saturday 26 March 417 athletes lined up in Tapdong Park, Jeju City (South Korea) for the 10th edition of the Jeju International Ultra Marathon.
The event combines a trail race (37 participants), a 100km (222 participants) and 200km - around the island - race in which 158 athletes took part. Overall 12 different countries were represented.
The organization was in the hands of the dynamic team of the Korean Ultra Marathon Federation and the 100km featured for the second consecutive year as the IAU 100km Asian Championship. The latter is a point to point race which follows the scenic coastal routes of Jeju Island. There was sunshine all day but the temperature was cold and there was a fierce wind.
In the men’s race Yoshikazu Haro (JPN) ran alongside with two athletes from the open race but pulled away just after half way (3:11:52) to finish well ahead of Pin Chi Chou (TPE).
Dae Soo Kim (KOR) finished third and secured a real international podium.
In the women’s division Mai Fujisawa (JPN) ran away from the rest of the field in the early stages of the race and went off for a convincing victory in 8:28:10. Two Korean ladies (Hee Kyung Joung and Narae Park) completed the female podium.
Results
Men
1 Yoshikaza HARO JPN 6:52:07
2 Pin Chi CHOU TPE 8:01:52
3 Dae Soo KIM KOR 9:06:40
Women
1 Mai FUJISAWA JPN 8:28:10
2 Hee Kyung JOUNG KOR 9:22:15
3 Narae PARK KOR 9:40:35
Dirk Strumane, IAU President, for the IAAF
