11,755 brave the rain in Lausanne

Guillaume Adam from Savoie, runner-up last year, and young Bernese Oberland athlete Fiona Jungen won the flagship race. Kenya’s Brian Kipchumba set a half-marathon course record, while Claudia Knecht from Graubünden won the women’s race. The day ended on a high with 10 km victories for Welshman Malek Roostaei and Julie Lachat from northern Vaud, and plenty of happy finishers.

Nearly 12,000 runners set off on Sunday on the fast Lausanne Marathon course between Place de Milan and the Ouchy waterfront, through the Lavaux vineyards. The many spectators joined the celebration, cheering on their loved ones, the leaders and the thousands of smiling runners who lit up this 33rd edition. In a wonderful show of togetherness, 2,399 people crossed the marathon finish line, 4,924 completed the half-marathon and 4,432 finished the 10 km, including 501 walkers. Alongside celebrating a record number of entries, the organisers can take pride in bringing together a huge field of cheerful, intrepid participants who happily laced up their running shoes despite the rain and wind.

Runner-up last year, former French middle-distance runner Guillaume Adam (RunMotion) claimed a solo victory at Place Bellerive in an excellent time for the conditions: 2:25:28, two minutes outside his personal best. After running a patient race, Antoine Grisel from Wavre in the canton of Neuchâtel stepped up the pace after Cully to take a fine second place in 2:28:47.

American Lawrence Stokes held on after a fast start to finish third in 2:31:40. In the women’s race, young LV Thun athlete Fiona Jungen delivered a strong performance in only her second marathon. “I have no words, it’s just… incredible! My legs were really hurting from 30 km onwards, but the crowd carried me to the finish,” she said, beaming, after completing the 42.195 km. Valais athlete Clara Masserey finished second, one place higher than last year, with a new personal best of 2:51:57. France’s Olivia Monzon completed the podium in 2:55:30.

The first race of the day, the half marathon, largely escaped the rain. Defending champion Brian Kipchumba (KEN), who also won the 10 km two years ago, quickly broke away from his pursuers and never looked back. His time of 1:03:54 lowered the course record by 46 seconds. Another familiar face on the roads of French-speaking Switzerland, but making his Lausanne Marathon debut, Erick Leon Ndiema (KEN) took second in 1:07:24, ahead of former cyclist Dimitri Bussard (1:07:52). In the women’s race, Claudia Knecht from the Engadin won alone in 1:18:51, around two minutes ahead of Antonella Lardi (USY/1:20:43) and Marine Antille (Renens/1:21:31).

Welshman Malek Roostaei and Ethiopia’s Teshome Daba brought the event to a close in the 10km race with a superb head-to-head battle as a few rays of sunshine broke through. The young British track runner seemed to have opened a decisive gap, but only just secured victory at the last moment, while Sylvain Monney (CAG Farvagny) took bronze. A regular on the podium in Lausanne, Julie Lachat won for the first time in 35:33, ahead of Dior Langlois from Sullens (36:49) and France’s Audrey Delaye (36:52).