Stern and Fellhofer claim UTMB World Series wins at KAT100 by UTMB

Esther Fellhofer and Christian Stern backed up their pre-race credentials to claim victory in the women’s and men’s 100 mile race at KAT100 by UTMB this weekend.

Despite some route changes due to forecasted weather, they both triumphed over the 160km course, topping 9820m of elevation gain along the way.

Home comforts for Fellhofer

Esther Fellhofer was the big favourite heading into the KAT100 by UTMB, and she dominated the women’s field to prove she was worth her pre-race plaudits.

It was Felhofer’s second title in the 100-mile distance at KAT100, which made its debut appearance in the UTMB World Series as KAT100 by UTMB.

This was her self-described home race. Having won the 2021 title and having triumphed in the 92km race last year, she made the time to return in 2023 despite a busy schedule.

“These are my home mountains where I used to train,” she said pre-race, “I really like this region for trail running.”

She would no doubt have liked her performance, too. She led from start to end, spending almost the entire race in the top 10 overall and reaching the finish in a time of 25:48:32 – achieving her aim of surpassing her 2021 time of 29:05:15.

10th overall, her closest rival was Japan’s Yasuko Natsume who came in with the clock on 31:11:44 – nearly five and a half hours later. Romana Horatschek, another Austrian, came in more than eight hours after Natsume to claim third.

Stern breaks through the 100-mile barrier

Christian Stern had never finished a 100-mile race, having failed on two occasions.

But now he has done so at KAT100 by UTMB, securing his spot at the 2024 UTMB World Series finals, just as he had hoped to do pre-race.

He led for most of the race, trading the lead with eventual runner-up Andris Ronimois and third-placed Mario Weiß until the St. Johann In Tirol checkpoint, where he took the lead for the last time, leading from the 74.5km until the end.

He finished in a time of 21:25:57, with the second-placed Ronimois coming in 50 minutes later. In what was a tight battle for third, Weiß was third just five minutes back on the Latvian runner-up.

Further back there was joy for British runners Jack Chamberlain and Robert Britton, who came sixth and seventh respectively.

Kjaerevik and Tremps claim 100km titles

Anders Kjaerevik of Norway and Spaniard Claudia Tremps claimed the 100k Endurance Trail wins in the longest of the shorter distance races at KAT100 by UTMB.

Kjaerevik finished the route in a time of 09:57:58, with Austrian Alexander Hutter in second 12 minutes back. Spaniard Cristofer Clemente was third, running a 10:41:52.

Tremps’ win was more dominant, winning in a time of 12:07:55 ahead of Michaela Pilat who finished in 12:31:28. Ildikó Wermescher was a distant third.

Bart Przedwojewski topped an all-Polish podium in a tight men’s 50k Marathon Trail. His winning time of 04:20:36 was just five minutes ahead of runner-up Marcin Rzeszotko, with Michal Rajca just a further minute back in third.

In a sprint finish, Isabell Bichler took the women’s 50k Marathon Trail crown at KAT100 by UTMB race by just four seconds ahead of Emmiliese Von Avis. Bichler won in a time of 05:29:20, Von Avis second on 05:29:24. Third was Katarzyna Wilk.

It was similarly close in the men’s 20k Speed Trail, with Maxim Chane winning ahead of Vlad Ixel by 11 seconds. 02:16:00 was the winning time, with third placed Falk Fischer just a further minute back.

Laura Hampel won the women’s race by a narrow margin too, finishing in 02:35:21- less than a minute ahead of Dominika Zupancic Valant. Anna Dulko came third.

KAT100 by UTMB results

KAT100 by UTMB 100M men’s results

1. Christian Stern (AUT), 21:25:57
2. Andris Ronimois (LAT), 22:16:38
3. Mario Weiß (AUT), 22:21:16

KAT100 by UTMB 100M women’s results

1. Esther Fellhofer (AUT), 25:48:32
2. Yasuko Natsume (JPN), 31.11.44
3. Romana Horatschek (AUT), 39:33:55

KAT100 by UTMB 100K Endurance Trail men’s results

1. Anders Kjaerevik (NOR), 09:57:58
2. Alexander Hutter (AUT), 10:09:50
3. Cristofer Clemente (ESP), 10:41:52

KAT100 by UTMB 100K Endurance Trail women’s results

1. Claudis Tremps (ESP), 12:07:55
2. Michaela Pilat (AUT), 12:31:28
3. Ildikó Wermescher (HUN), 13:52:22

KAT100 by UTMB 50K Marathon Trail men’s results

1. Bart Przewojews (POL), 04:20:36
2. Marcin Rzeszotko (POL), 04:25:04
3. Michal Rajca (POL), 04:26:00

KAT100 by UTMB 50K Marathon Trail women’s results

1. Isabell Bichler (AUT), 05:29:20
2. Emmiliese Von Avia (USA), 05:29:24
3. Katarzyna Wilk (POL), 05:40:41

KAT100 by UTMB 20K Speed Trail men’s results

1. Maxim Chane (FRA), 02:16:00
2. Vlad Ixel (AUS), 02:16:11
3. Falk Fischer (GER), 02:17:10

KAT100 by UTMB 20K Speed Trail women’s results

1. Laura Hampel (GER), 02:35:21
2. Dominika Zupancic Valant (SLO), 02:36:04
3. Anna Dulko (CAN), 02:41:38