Hello and welcome to MR’s weekly rundown, your unofficial guide to all the comings and goings in the world of running. This week, we look back on Zurich’s Diamond League and last weekend’s spectacular Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc in France.
Good week:
Francois D’Haene set a new Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc record on Saturday afternoon after clinching his second title in Chamonix. The Frenchman dominated the grueling 168K ultramarathon from start to finish, crossing the line in 20hrs 11mins 44secs.
Bad week:
American Anton Krupicka, who was widely tipped for a podium finish in this year’s UTMB, could only manage a disappointing 42nd place in 26hrs 30mins 15secs after running out of steam in the mountains.
Stat of the week:
42.21 seconds. The new national record set by Great Britain’s Women’s 4x100m relay team in Zurich. Asha Philip, Ashleigh Nelson, Anyika Onuora and Desiree Henry romped to victory to become European champions ahead of Jamaica and the United States.
Bare chested cheek award:
American athlete Will Leer pulled off his vest on the finishing straight as Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad – disqualified at the recent European Championships for doing the same thing – outsprinted him last weekend.
Dubious product of the week:
Hummingbird race bottle. Designed to combat the act of throwing drinks in your face at cup-filled drinks stations, the Hummingbird race bottle allows you to simply fill up and go. A bird in the hand is not worth two in the bush.
Video of the week:
Watch USA’s Queen Harrison’s spectacular fall at the penultimate hurdle in the Women’s 100m in Zurich’s Diamond League meeting in Switzerland.
