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Canberra has fastest 50km ultra marathon in the world
The International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU) has released its 50km road rankings for 2008 and it is all good news for the Canberra 50km Ultra Marathon.
The ACT's Jackie Fairweather, who was the first woman in the Canberra race last April, was the fastest woman in the world. And Victorian Mark Tucker and NSW's David Criniti, who were first and second in Canberra, were the fastest two men in the world.
Both Fairweather and Tucker set new Australian records in last April’s race. Fairweather’s time of 3.19.12 was also a world record for the W40 category, although ratification of that record by the IAU is still pending but expected this month.
Tucker and Criniti, who ran 2.53.47 and 2.58.21 respectively, were the only men in the world to break the three hour barrier for the year.
The Canberra 50km race, which incorporates the Australian 50km Ultra Marathon Championships, has a long history of records. Fairweather’s world record was the fifth age group world record to be set on the fast course, which largely follows the shores of Lake Burley Griffin.
In 1994, Lavinia Petrie (VIC) set a W50 world record of 3.41.57; in 1999 Randall Hughes (VIC) set an M75 world record of 4.44.09; and Tina Torpy (VIC) set world records in 2006 and 2007 in the W60 category, with that mark now standing at 4.13.32.
The 2009 Canberra 50km Ultra Marathon will be held in conjunction with the Canberra Marathon on 19 April. Interest in the ultra marathon is again high as the first male and female will qualify for trips to Gibraltar in October, where they will participate in the IAU World 50km Trophy Race.
Full details of the Canberra Marathon and 50km Ultra Marathon are at www.canberramarathon.com.au.
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