Postcard perfect in Lausanne

Jasper McDowell from Geneva and Mercyline Jeronoh from neighboring France won the title race; Kenyans Brian Kipchumba and Glady Songol took part in the half marathon, and Belgian Thibault De Rijdt and Fribourg:s Jennifer Azevedo in the 10 km.

12,004 enthusiasts took the plunge this Sunday, October 26, from Place de Milan, between the lake and vineyards in the superb Lavaux region. Each participant in the 32nd edition of Lausanne:s major autumn event was heartily cheered on by tens of thousands of people 1,901 runners crossed the finish line in the marathon, 4,810 in the half marathon, and 5,292 in the 10 km (including 636 walkers).

“We were really lucky with the weather: it seemed like the sun came out especially for us in a week of rain It was a magnificent day,” rejoiced the Organizing Committee.

Second last year, Swiss runner-up Jasper McDowell (Genthod) from Geneva celebrated his first major victory in Lausanne. Flanked by Swiss trail champion Dorian Marchal (CABV Martigny) and 2014 10km winner Guillaume Adam (RunMotion) until the halfway point, he pushed himself to complete the last 20 kilometers alone. “It was a great race! When I accelerated, I wondered if I’d made a mistake, because we had a strong headwind on the way back,” sighed the hero of the day, clocking 2:24:10. Marchal and Adam finished less than three minutes apart in 2:26:51 and 2:26:55.

On the women’s side, 2018 10km winner Mercyline Jeronoh (KEN) overtook German Masters 10km champion Evgeniia Hermann (TB Loeffingen/LG Baar) at the bottom of the Parc du Denantou. They finished the race in 2:48:16 and 2:48:41 Valais native Clara Masserey (Vétroz) completed the podium in 2:53:17.

In the half marathon, Kenyan runners dominated. At the halfway point, last year’s 10km winner Brian Kipchumba (KEN) started off at full speed to take the lead with a lead of around thirty seconds over a small group. He won in 1:05:28, ultimately 31 seconds ahead of Zurich youth international Jonathan Hofer (LC Zurich/1:05:59), who beat local Habtom Amaniel (ERI/Olympic Refugee Team/Roche/1:06:00) in the sprint. 2024 marathon king Ilias Hernandez (Prilly/Stade Genève) finished 5th in 1:06:20.

On the women’s side, Kenyan Gladys Songol (KEN) lowered her record to 1:17:15, nearly a minute ahead of national 10,000m medalist Elena Eichenberger (LV Langenthal/1:18:01), Spain’s Reyes Astrain (1:18:40) from Nyon, and Fribourg’s Marion Monney (CAG Farvagny/1:18:40) finished third and fourth.

The shortest distance, the 10km, was dominated by Belgian Thibault De Rijdt (BEL) in 30:21, ahead of 2024 winner Edmond Demoulin (FRA/Stade Lausanne/30:48) and former Swiss cross-country champion Adriano Engelhardt (US Ascona/30:59). Fribourg’s Jennifer Azevedo (AT Rechtahlten) won the women’s race in 35:08, ahead of Vaudois Julie Lachat (Champvent/35:50/PB) and Dior Langlois (USY/36:50).