Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 52, November 2013 | Page 38

Otter Records Tumble
OTTER TRAIL RUN PRESENTED BY SALOMON & GU, NATURES VALLEY,
22 SEPTEMBER
Both the men’s and women’s course records fell
as the world’s best chased the Grail of Trail.

A

running battle of epic proportions played
out on the famous Otter Hiking Trail as arguably
the strongest ?eld of trail runners yet to square
up on African soil took on the marathon-length
course. Amongst the men, World Champion Ricky
Lightfoot became the ?rst international runner
to claim victory here, dominating from the start
to clock 4:15:27 and shatter the 4:40:15 course
record set by Ryan Sandes. Second place went to
2012 RETTO winner Ian Don Wauchope (4:24:33),
who used the penultimate climb to move from
sixth to second place, while AJ Calitz was third in
4:27:03.

The Otter Run, now in its ?fth year, has
established itself as the benchmark event for
marathon distance trail running in SA and
is on the bucket list of most South African
endurance athletes, since the ?ve-day hiking
trail is off-limits to trail runners for 363 days
a year. With almost 3 000m of vertical ascent
and the infamous Bloukrans River mouth
crossing, the Grail of Trail is a relentlessly
technical race worthy of its reputation.

In the woman’s race, New Zealand’s Ruby Muir led
from early on and ?nished in a time of 4:55:34,
while South African favourite Landie Greyling was
never far off the pace, but could not close down
the break, ?nishing second in 4:58:57 and also
breaking Jeannie Bomford’s previous record of
5:17:12. Nicolette Grif?oen was third in 5:24:57.

38

ISSUE 52 NOVEMBER 2013 / www.modernathlete.co.za

Images: Jacques Marais

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