On Saturday at Ultra-Trail Cape Town (UTCT) in South Africa, Canadian ultrarunner Jazmine Lowther captured the top spot in the 100K race, crossing the line in 12:04:25. Her dominant win highlighted a successful day for Canadian runners, with Quebec’s Geneviève Asselin-Demers and Jean-François Cauchon also taking top-10 finishes, placing seventh and eighth respectively.
Ultra-Trail Cape Town boasts 4,972 metres of elevation over 100K and is described on the event website as “a front-loaded, technical route.” The race has two major climbs within the first 50K, and this year’s race had temperatures reaching 25°C. Last year’s edition saw Quebec’s Marianne Hogan claim the second-place spot.
Lowther’s dominant victory
Lowther pulled by the 31K mark and never looked back, extending her lead to nearly 30 minutes by the final climb. Antonina Iushina of Russia finished second in 12:50:01, with Germany’s Eva Sperger taking third in 13:07:21. Asselin-Demers also had a solid race, finishing seventh in 14:47:03.
Lowther, who took second at Run the Rut 50K in Big Sky, Mo. in September, turned professional in 2022. Originally from Nelson, B.C., she has seen her share of triumphs and setbacks over the past few years. After a standout win at the 2022 Canyons Endurance Runs and a strong fourth-place finish at the UTMB’s CCC race, she navigated injuries and biomechanical challenges before returning to top form.
On the men’s side, France’s Hugo Deck claimed the top spot in 10:31:02 with Portugal’s Miguel Arsénio taking second, and Michelino Sunseri of the U.S. rounded out the podium. Quebec native Cauchon, who took eighth in the men’s race, smashed the course record at Quebec Mega Trail in July in Mont-Sainte-Anne, Que.
For full results of Ultra-Trail Cape Town, head here.
