Japan’s Jumpei Yamaguchi and France’s Floriane Hot won the 2024 IAU 100k World Championships in Bengaluru, India over the December 7 and 8 weekend. Yamaguchi clocked an impressive 6:12:17 performance, while aptly named Hot recorded a 7:08:43 finish time. Hot defended her title in 2022, while Yamaguchi improved from second to first.

The temperatures were warm up to 27C and the humidity was high at approximately 80 per cent for an ultra event.

The race is run over a 4.865-kilometre route in Bengaluru, India which rests at 914 metres of elevation.

Men’s race

Jumpei Yamaguchi and compatriot Haruki Okayama ran together for several kms. In the end, they finished 1-2 in 2022 and it appeared they would do the same here.

Yamaguchi and Okayama separated themselves early putting a large gap on the remainder of the field. However, Guillaume Ruel of France and Tomoya Watanabe of Japan kept their sites on the two Japanese runners. The four were separated by half a minute. The gap grew to 90 seconds by 30km.

Keeping a steady pace behind was Olle Meijer of Sweden, Charlie Lawrence of the US as well as Vipul Kumar of India — they were all in striking distance at halfway.

By the 68km mark, Yamaguchi had opened an insurmountable gap for Okayama. Meanwhile, now a Spanish trio of Aguilar, Gazapo, and Felix Pont were closing in on Okayama for second place. Working together, the Spaniards came from behind to allow one of their countryman to pass and it was Aguilar now in second.

Yamaguchi set out for his last lap with a nearly 12-minute gap, but behind him, the remaining podium spots continued to be traded between the chasers.

In the end, Yamaguchi cruised in for the big win in the time of 6:12:17. Aguilar finished second in 6:25:54, and defending champion Okayama claimed third place in 6:37:54.

Women’s race

Miho Nakata of Japan — the 24-hour world record holder — and Eszter Csillag of Hungary led the early stages. The pair ran together at the end of the first two laps in well under an hour. Hot and compatriot Marie-Ange Brumelot followed a minute behind. Meawnhile, Great Britain’s Sarah Webster was another 15 seconds back.

By 30kms, Nakata was well in the lead. Webster had joined Csillag just 20 seconds behind, and Hot sat one minute off of their pace. Caitriona Jennings of Ireland, Melissah Gibson of Great Britain, and Petra Pastorová of the Czech Republic were stalking midway through the race.

Webster made a move to take the lead. She was followed by Brumelot. Both Nakata and Csillag faded. Webster and Brumelot continued to run in close proximity a 500m lead. Hot was another 75 seconds behind and gradually gaining. Meanwhile, Csillag and Jennings retired and called it a day.

Five hours in and Webster was leading Hot, who’d just passed Brumelot. Nakata was now another five minutes behind.

In the end, Hot’s patience paid off. She clocked 7:08:43. Brumelot stayed took second, finishing in 7:12:22, and Webster held onto third in 7:19:18.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR