Scots land World 100k medals

Monday 24th November 2014

Ellie Greenwood won her second world 100km title when winning the IAU world title in Qatar at the weekend.

Backed up by fellow Scot Joasia Zakrzewski in third, Jo Meek in fourth and Emily Gelder in 19th, the Scots-born Canadian also led GB to women’s team gold.

Greenwood’s time of 7 hours 30 minutes and 48 seconds is a new Scottish record and puts her third on the GB all time list behind Carolyn Hunter Rowe and Lizzy Hawker, both previous British winners of this event. The race was held on a 5 km loop on the Aspire sports complex in Doha.

For Greenwood, it reinforces her position as one of the best women’s ultra runner in the world just now, (writes Adrian Stott who was in Doha with Team GB and NI). Ellie is certainly the most versatile, having enjoyed success on the trails on the North American ultra circuit together with her historic Comrades victory earlier this year in June.

Greenwood who was born in Dundee, now lives in Vancouver. Her parents still live in Newport-on-Tay in Fife.

She said: ‘I felt I was in 7 hours 30 shape, but with all the talk of how the heat and humidity might affect this race, decided to set off at 7.45 pace.

‘If others wanted to go out faster, I was ok with that, as I felt confident there wouldn’t be many of us running under 7.45.

‘I had done some training in a heat chamber as part of my preparation. I didn’t really have to make a decisive break. It was one of those races where you just find your self in the lead as those ahead of me just faded. The GB support squad were great in keeping me in touch with how far I was ahead each lap.’

Joasia Zakrzewski who was the previous Scottish record holder with 7:41:06 came within a minute of her PB with 7:42:02 in third, under a minute outside her best set when second at Winschoten in 2011. It was a fine run once again from Joasia and landed the Dumfries doctor the World 100k Masters title, too.

The Glasgow Commonwealth marathoner was delighted with her performance. Three weeks ago, she had also been in Doha for the IAU 50km world trophy and returned with a silver medal.

Joasia Zakrzewski at the Glasgow 2014 marathon

Joasia said: ‘In the build-up to the event, everyone was playing up how the heat and humidity would be a huge factor, but the conditions were actually cooler than three weeks ago.

‘I am delighted to be on the podium again, but Jo Meek pushed me all the way and I had to dig in on the last lap as I was aware she was closing me down.’

The GB men, although finishing a creditable third place in the team competition had mixed fortunes individually.

It was Scottish runner Paul Giblin, who led the British team home, improving his 100k PB by over 13 minutes to record 6:56:12 in 11th place.

The 37-year-old Paisley native has been having a good year, claiming 3rd in the UK 100km championships in May, then totally obliterating his own Course record at the 95 mile West highland way trail race in June.

With his contract as digital media manager with the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow finishing in September, he took himself off to Flagstaff in the States for 5 weeks, where playing at being a full time athlete, and able to link up with some top American ultra runners, certainly paid off.

The Men’s race was won by the American phenomenon Max King in 6:27:43. King, is a rare breed who can switch disciplines seemingly at ease. He has a 2:14:36 marathon PB; made the final of the Steeplechase in the US Olympic trials where he ran 8:30:54; and has previously been a previous world champion when winning the world mountain running trophy.

Full results are on the IAU website and there are post-race race video interviews with Ellie Greenwood and Jo Zakrzewski on irunfar.com.

Tags: Ellie Greenwood, IAU World 100k Champs; Paul Giblin, Joasia Zakrzewski, Lachlan Oates, Louise Mercer