News - Fri 14th Sep 2018 - Dutch runner Ragna Dabats is ULTRA 2018 Skyrunning World Champion - Salomon Skyline Scotland

Dutch runner Ragna Dabats is ULTRA 2018 Skyrunning World Champion

14th Sep 2018

Ragna Dabats ran to a fantastic win today at the ULTRA 2018 Skyrunning World Championships – and crossed the line holding her young daughter’s hand. 

 

1st Female - Finish

Ragna's daughter holds her gold winning mum's hand at the finish line. Credit: No Limits Phtotography

 

With the finish line crowds smiling in appreciation at the touching scene, the Dutch mother made sure to attend to the youngster's needs – a quick toilet stop – before she could then enjoy her golden moment. 

It seemed that the Plan B 'bad weather' course in the Salomon Ben Nevis Ultra race suited Ragna. She finished 14 minutes ahead of the rest of the female field in 4:36:20.

 

 
ULTRA day at the 2018 Skyrunning World Championships

In great contrast to the short but intense 5km / 1000m Salomon Mamores VK VERTICAL race yesterday, today saw the #SkyWorldChamps18 ULTRA contenders demonstrate their endurance with champions Ragna Dabats and Jonathan Albon crowned at the 2nd of the three Skyrunning World Championships races

Posted by Salomon Ben Nevis Ultra on Friday, 14 September 2018

 

She said: “I am really happy to be the winner. My season could not be more perfect because first I became the Trail World Champion (in May) and now the ULTRA Skyrunning World Champion."

Ragna, 39, who was also the European champion in Skyrunning in 2017, enjoyed the "fast course". She said: “Overall it was a very fast course. The first part was very muddy and wet and I fell over completely in a big puddle, with my head right in. It was very steep up and down.

 

1st Female - Glen Nevis

Ragna making it look easy in Glen Nevis.  Credit: No Limits Photography

 

“Then the second part was on tracks and very fast so I was just hoping my legs would be strong enough to get me to the finish. I think it was good for me because although I am not used to the mud I like the stony tracks. The win is so perfect for me.”

There was more finish line emotion, this time from the second and third placed runners Gema Arenas Alcazar, of Spain, and Maria Mercedes Pila Viracocha, of Ecuador. The pair sprinted for the line and only four seconds divided their times after almost 50km of running.

 

2nd and 3rd Female - Finish

 Seconds split the second and third female runners, Credit: No Limits Photography

 

Gema finished in 4:50:32 and Maria in 4:50:36. The Spanish silver medallist said: “That was so tough. It was very fast for most of the race and I had to work very hard to overtake the other women.”

Fourth and fifth places were also close. Natalia Tomasiak, of Poland, finished in 4:52:46, with Norwegian Henriette Albon, the wife of overall winner Jonathan Albon, in 4:53:04.

 

3rd Female - Glen Nevis

Maria ran to third place in the ULTRA 2018 Skyrunning World Championships . Credit: No Limits Photography

 

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