Du Plessis conquers Outeniqua mountains

Competition draws the world's best
Participants in the Mountain Ultra Trail races set off at the crack of dawn on Saturday morning to brave the Outeniqua peaks in the Western Cape.
Tielman Van Lill
  • 10 Months Ago
Marietjie du Plessis from Windhoek, who braved a 98-kilometre ultra mountain marathon, reached the end of her adventure in 18 hours, 58 minutes and 48 seconds, just before midnight on Saturday evening. In the process, she climbed just over five kilometres vertically.

Du Plessis finished 30th overall in the Mountain Ultra Trail, and was the seventh woman to cross the finish line. She is also the fourth-fastest woman in her division at an average of 5.21 kilometres per hour.

The event, which is part of the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB) World Series, is held annually over various distances in the Outeniqua mountains near George, South Africa.

For the toughest, there are 98 and 165 kilometres. Less 'daring' runners get 25, 42 or 59 kilometres to complete.

Kim Schreiber from Germany and Johardt van Heerden from South Africa achieved new course records in the 59 km section. Bianca Tarboton of South Africa set the third record of the competition in the marathon.



Main results

165 km

Women: 1 Sylvie Scherzinger (38:45:24), 2 Colleen Browne (42:32:35).

Men: 1 Ryan Sanders (21:46:32), 2 Douglas Pickard (22:54:50), 3 Gabriel Kriel (23:56:07).



98 km

Women: 1 Tarrin van Niekerk (15:02:39), 2 Kelly Freeth (15:14:00), 3 Sveta Becker (15:34:33).

Men: 1 Bruce Arnett (13:39:13), 2 Michael Molyneaux (13:49:40), 3 Guido Tagge (14:20:40).



59 km

Women: 1. Kim Schreiber (7:19:18, new record), 2 Jada Linstrom (8:03:56), 3 Samantha Reilly (8:09:04).

Men: 1 Johardt van Heerden (5:55:18, new record), 2 Jeshurun Small (6:15:32), 3 Mvuyisi Gcogco (7:04:27).



42 km marathon

Women: 1 Bianca Tarboton (4:36:55, new record), 2 Rebecca Kohne (5:16:12), 3 Sumé van Heerden (5:25:08).

Men: 1 Iain Peterkin and Jacques Buys (4:31:00), 3 Rikus Saayman (4:43:32).



25 km challenge

Women: 1 Lijan van Niekerk (2:25:57), 2 Vicky Welham (2:36:20), 3 Nadine van Driel (2:43:18).

Men: 1 Anderson Ncube (2:01:22), 2 Christiaan van den Heever (2:05:17), 3 Ruben Dlepu (2:21:33).



– tielman@republikein.com.na