Home News 2024 IAU 100k World Championships: Yamaguchi and Hot Claim Gold in Bengaluru

2024 IAU 100k World Championships: Yamaguchi and Hot Claim Gold in Bengaluru

January 9, 2024

The 2024 IAU 100k World Championships, held in Bengaluru, India, witnessed exceptional performances from Japan’s Jumpei Yamaguchi and France’s Floriane Hot. Yamaguchi triumphed in the men’s race with an impressive time of 6:12:17, while Hot defended her 2022 title in the women’s event, finishing in 7:08:43. The race, held on December 7, 2024, took place under challenging conditions marked by high humidity and rising temperatures, which made for a thrilling but demanding contest.

Runners from 35 countries gathered in Bengaluru, a city of 14 million located 3,000 feet above sea level, to compete in the 100k event. The course, a 4.865-kilometer loop, tested athletes with its heat, with temperatures starting at 19°C (66°F) and soaring to 27°C (80°F) by midday. The field completed 20 laps of the circuit, plus an additional 2.696-kilometer starting lap. This edition of the IAU 100k World Championships marked the first time the event was hosted in India since its inception in 1987.

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Men’s Race: Yamaguchi’s Early Lead Seals Victory

The men’s race was a dynamic contest, with Yamaguchi leading from the outset. The Japanese duo of Yamaguchi and Haruki Okayama, who finished second and first in the 2022 edition, quickly established a dominant pace. By the third lap, Yamaguchi and Okayama had a 30-second lead over their competitors, including France’s Guillaume Ruel and Japan’s Tomoya Watanabe.

As the race progressed, Yamaguchi distanced himself from Okayama, with a gap of 7 minutes by the 14th lap. By the time he crossed the finish line in 6:12:17, Yamaguchi had cemented his first IAU 100k World Championships title. Spain’s Antonio Jesús Aguilar finished second in 6:25:54, while Okayama secured third with a time of 6:37:54. Japan’s strong performance in the men’s race was further bolstered by Toru Somiya, who finished fourth in 6:39:58, ensuring a convincing team victory for Japan. Spain and Great Britain rounded out the top three in the men’s team standings.

Women’s Race: Hot Defends Title with Strategic Win

©Floriane Hot, the 2024 IAU 100k World Championships women’s champion./ Irunfar.com

The women’s race unfolded with tactical precision, as Hot demonstrated her experience to secure her second consecutive IAU 100k World Championships victory. Miho Nakata of Japan led early, with Hungary’s Eszter Csillag in tow. However, Hot and teammate Marie-Ange Brumelot of France were close behind, waiting for the right moment to make their move.

By lap 16, Hot had overtaken Great Britain’s Sarah Webster and maintained her lead through to the finish. Hot crossed the line in 7:08:43, successfully defending her 2022 title. Brumelot followed closely behind in second place with a time of 7:12:22, while Webster held on for third in 7:19:18. Nakata finished fourth in 7:25:52, while Melissah Gibson of Great Britain secured fifth in 7:35:27.

©Floriane Hot (centre) with Marie-Ange Brumelot (left) and Sarah Webster (photo: Shyam G Menon)

France dominated the women’s team competition, with Hot and Brumelot’s strong finishes leading the charge. Great Britain and the United States took second and third in the team standings, respectively.

A Landmark Championship for Japan and France

The 2024 IAU 100k World Championships in Bengaluru provided a showcase of endurance, strategy, and resilience. Yamaguchi’s first-place finish and Hot’s title defense solidified their positions as global ultrarunning leaders. Japan’s dominant men’s team and France’s commanding women’s team victories highlighted the strength of these nations in ultramarathon events. Despite the tough conditions, these athletes displayed extraordinary perseverance, making this year’s championships a thrilling and memorable event.

Final Results – Men’s Top 10: