Ahansal wins 2013 Volcano Marathon
Morocco's Mohamad Ahansal battled the altitude and heat to win the inaugural UVU Volcano Marathon on 14 November 2013. The women's title was won by Great Britain's Yvonne Brown.
The race took place in the Atacama Desert in Chile, beginning at an altitude of 4,400 metres (14,500 feet) in the vicinity of Lascar Volcano. It was a gruelling affair for many of the competitors who had to encounter some challenging hills and manage the impact of the heat and oxygen deprivation. The average altitude of the entire race was close to 4,000 metres and temperatures reached the mid 20s Celsius, or almost 80 Degrees Farenheit.
Ahansal, a multiple winner of the Marathon des Sables, led from the outset to take the title in a time of 3:55.15 hrs. Basti Haag (GER) took second place in 4:47.39 hrs, just ahead of Alexander Rudiger (AUT) in 4:47.49 hrs.
The women's race saw former Antarctic Ice Marathon winner Yvonne Brown cross the line in first place in a time of 5:55.16 hrs. She finished just ahead of the reigning North Pole Marathon champion, Fiona Oakes, who finished in a time of 6:00.39 hrs. Germany's Sarah Ames was third.
Mexico's Sandra Nunez, a former world silver medallist at tower running, completed a 50km ultramarathon in 7:04.12 hrs.
The next edition of the Volcano Marathon is set to take place in November 2014 with entries opening next month.
Full results of the 2013 race are posted below, including half marathon finishers.
Contact: www.volcanomarathon.com
Richard Donovan, Race Director - npmarathon@gmail.com
Men's Marathon
| Name | Time | ||
| 1. | Mohamad Ahansal (IRL) | 3.55.15 | Bib No. 1 |
| 2. | Basti Haag (GER) | 4.47.39 | Bib No. 14 |
| 3. | Alexander Rudiger (AUT) | 4.47.49 | Bib No. 22 |
| 4. | Julio Dosal (CHI) | 5.43.55 | Bib No. 10 |
| 5. | James Alderson (AUS) | 5.55.16 | Bib No. 2 |
| 5. | Ian Egan (IRL) | 5.55.16 | Bib No. 12 |
| 7. | Taco Jongman (NED) | 6.04.50 | Bib No. 17 |
| 8. | Klaus Jaschan (CHI) | 6.47.59 | Bib No. 16 |
| 9. | Gary Craig (USA) | 6.56.06 | Bib No. 9 |
| 10. | Connor Brown (GBR) | 7.51.30 | Bib No. 5 |
| 10. | Christopher Duff (USA) | 7:51:30 | Bib No. 11 |
| 12. | Steve Birnie (GBR) | 7.57.36 | Bib No. 4 |
| 12. | Jarlath Healy (IRL) | 7.57.36 | Bib No. 15 |
| 14. | Paul Grealish (IRL) | 8.11.11 | Bib No. 13 |
| 15. | Krishna Prasad Chigurupati (IND) | 10.24.38 | Bib No. 7 |
Women's Marathon
| Name | Time | ||
| 1. | Yvonne Brown (GBR) | 5.55.16 | Bib No. 6 |
| 2. | Fiona Oakes (GBR) | 6.00.39 | Bib No. 20 |
| 3. | Sarah Ames (GER) | 9.18.21 | Bib No. 3 |
| 4. | Uma Devi Chigurupati (IND) | 10.24.38 | Bib No. 8 |
Women's 50km Ultra Marathon
| Name | Time | ||
| 1. | Sandra Nunez (MEX)) | 7.04.12 | Bib No.19 |
Men's Half Marathon
| Name | Dist | ||
| 1. | Andrew Richardson (GBR) | 30 km | Bib No. 21 |
| 1. | Philippe Laurent (FRA) | 25 km | Bib No. 18 |
