With the thrills of Sierre-Zinal still in the air, it’s this Saturday, August 17, time for the Tatra Sky Marathon (28k – 1.700m+); the first Golden Trail World Series event in Poland. Three names stand out from the line-up: Joyline Chepngeno (Kenya), Elhousine Elazzaoui (Morocco) and Bart Przedwojewski (Poland).
Joyline Chepngeno was the big surprise at Sierre-Zinal. Out of nowhere suddenly the Milimani runner showed-up. A mother, who lost 30 kilos in a year in her attempt to return to running, won one of the biggest races of the Golden Trail World Series. So, can she do it again? Is she recovered enough?
Chepngeno will see a familiar face on the start line; that of Mădălina Florea. The Romanian Salomon trail runner accompanied Chepngeno on the podium of Sierre-Zinal, thanks to her third place. Who will have fresh legs, is Malen Osa, the number two of Zegama. The Spanish teammate of Florea skipped the Marathon du Mont-Blanc and Sierre-Zinal, but returns to the circuit at the Tatra Sky Marathon.
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Other runners to look out for are Anna Gibson (USA), Philaries Kisang (Kenya) and Marta Martinez (Spain).
Elazaoui returns
The men’s race means the return of Elhousine Elazzaoui. The Moroccan Nnormal runner won the Marathon du Mont-Blanc, skipped Sierre-Zinal, but will race in Poland. He’s this season on fire, as proven not only by his win in Chamonix, but also by his second place at Zegama.
Elazzaoui will face opposition from Bart Przedwojewski and Marcin Kubica, who are racing on home turf. Other big names in the line-up are those of Josphat Kiprotich, Ezekiel Rutto (both Kenya), Alex Garcia (Spain) and Frédéric Tranchand (France).
Photo: Jan Nyka
