Lindsay van Aswegen
South Africa made a successful comeback to the World 100km Championships after over 10 years’ absence. Lindsay van Aswegen won the bronze medal in the women’s race at the championships in Winschoten, Netherlands on Saturday, 10 September 2011.
The race was run over 10 laps of 10km on a flat course. Although the race started in overcast and cool conditions, it got substantially warmer as the race progressed.
The men’s race started at a furious pace, with Fanie Matshipa leading together with eventual winner Griorgio Calcaterra of Italy. The pace proved too hot for Matshipa and he dropped back after 40km, eventually dropping out after 80km.
Charles Tijane joined the second group of runners on the third lap, but also found the pace to be too fast and also dropped out after 70km.
By this stage van Aswegen, who had run a consistently paced race started moving up through the field. Going into the last lap she was in fourth place behind Marina Bychkova of Russia, Irina Vishnevkaya (RUS) and Joanne Zakrewski of Great Britain. She passed a fading Vishnevskaya, but could not close the gap enough to pass Zakrewski. She finished third in 7:42:09, with Buchkova winning in 7:27:19, and Zakrewski second in 7:41:06. Van Aswegen also won the women’s 40+ world title.
Kerry Koen ran a creditable 9th place, finishing in 8:06:52. Salome Brits’ time was 8:51:41.
The women’s team was fourth, behind Russia, the United States and Japan.
Shawn Mickeljohn, making his comeback to the World Championships after many years away, was second in the men’s 45+ masters category.
The next World 100km Championships will take place in Bergamo, Italy on 22 April 2012.
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