Mityaev, Croft push hard to clinch Ultra-trail Cape Town titles | Sport

Mityaev, Croft push hard to clinch Ultra-trail Cape Town titles | Sport



Dimitry Mityaev (Credit: Zac Zinn)

  • Russian runner Dmitry Mityaev claimed his second Ultra-trail Cape Town title.
  • New Zealand’s Ruth Croft powered through to clinch the women’s title.
  • For more sports news, go to the News24 Sport front page.

Russia’s Dmitry Mityaev pushed hard to maintain the lead and claim a second Ultra-trail Cape Town title on Sunday.

Despite suffering a fall at the top of Table Mountain, Mityaev overcome piecing pain to establish a solid lead and stay ahead.

Mityaev managed to stay ahead of the field as he finished in a time of 10:43:06.

“I am very happy to have won for a second time. It’s an amazing race, a very difficult and technical race. A very beautiful community with friendly people,” he said.

Mityaev’s nearest challenger was a determined Caleb Olson, who slowed down in the final stretch due to foot pain.

With the gap widened, Olson crossed the finish line in 11:02:28 to seal second place with Anthony Costales finishing third in 11:24:08.

“I was pushing as hard as I could and on the very rocky
terrain after that and my feet were blistering and painful, so I slowed,” said Olson.

“It has to be one of the coolest views of any race. It reminded me of some of the tall
alpine areas near home, but it is right above the ocean in the city as well. It
was a great day and I am super excited.”

RESULTS:

UT100 – 100 km

Men

1. Dimitry Mitaev  10:43:06, 2. Caleb Olson (US) 11:02:28, 3. Anthony Costales (US) 11:24:08, 4. Thibaut Baronian (FR) 11:36:29, 5. Simon Desvaux de Marigny (MU) 11:42:01, 6. Mads Louring (DK) 11:48:35, 7. Johannes Löw (DE) 11:55:46, 8. Ryan Sandes (ZA) 12:02:58, 9. Ricardo Chertas (ES) 12:11:55, 10. Darren Thomas (US) 12:29:29 – 11th overall

Women

1. Ruth Croft (NZ) 12:12:20  – 10th overall, 2. Marianne Hogan (CA) 12:39:53 – 12th overall, 3. Ekaterina Mityaeva 12:44:07 – 13th overall, 4. Varvara Shikanova 13:20:15 – 15th overall, 5. Sam Reilly 13:31:09 – 18th overall, 6. Kerry-Ann Marshall 14:46:08  – 24th overall

UTCT – 100 miler (166 km)

Men

1. Aleksei Tolstenko  21:53:04, 2. Douglas Pickard (ZA) 23:53:23, 3. Chris Ngaka (ZA) 25:53:33

Women

1. Nicolette Griffioen (ZA) 26:11:08 – 4th overall, 2. Naomi Brand (ZA) 29:47:09 – 9th overall, 3. Jo Keppler (ZA) 31:59:37 – 13th overall

Meanwhile, New Zealand’s Ruth Croft powered through to clinch the women’s title and finish 10th overall in 12:12:20.

“I just wanted to do my
own race and I was being told the splits at the aid stations, so I knew I had a
solid lead and just had to keep up the momentum… It is a tough course, especially with the heat
and no shelter.”

Canadian Marianne Hogan attempted to reach Croft, but fell behind as she finished second in 12:39:53.

“It was an interesting day, I did not know what to expect as I am
coming back from a year of injury. I am glad I came early this year to do the
course again before the race,” said Hogan.

“My favourite trails are when the mountain meets the ocean and
that is why I love Cape Town, as we are served that almost the whole way.”

Ekaterina Mityaeva, who finished fourth last year, rounded up the podium with a third-place finish in 12:44:07.



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