Maude Mathys wins Pikes Peak Marathon in new course record

Maude Mathys of Switzerland won today’s Pikes Peak Marathon in Colorado in a new course record of 4:02:45, smashing Megan Kimmel’s course record of 4:15:04, which was set last year.

Sunday was Mathys’ second course record in two weeks–she set her first at the Sierre-Zinal race in the Swiss Alps on August 11. The average grade of the Pikes Peak ascent is 11 per cent, with just under 2,300m of elevation gain.

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Maude Mathys (Salomon) wins the 2019 Pikes Peak Marathon in a course record time of 4:02:45, breaking Megan Kimmel’s course record of 4:15:04 set last year. pic.twitter.com/S2Wr4q5SMJ

— iRunFar (@iRunFar) August 25, 2019

There has been controversy surrounding Mathys for several years as she was reprimanded in 2015 for using the fertility drug clomiphene, which is prohibited under WADA rules. (She was using it because she was trying to get pregnant, and was let off with a warning.)

The 2019 Pike Peak Marathon winner, Kilian Jornet, met with cheers as he approaches the finish line in 3:27:29. #PPM pic.twitter.com/eFa0hGNqJg

— iRunFar (@iRunFar) August 25, 2019

Kilian Jornet won the men’s title, but missed the course record which he had been targeting. Jornet finished in 3:27:29, just over 10 minutes behind Matt Carpenter’s record of 3:16:39. Jornet has raced the event before, winning in 2012 in a 3:40. Jornet’s effort is still extremely impressive and the fourth-fastest time ever run on the course.

The Spanish runner is fresh off a strong performance at Sierre-Zinal two weeks ago, where he took a shocking four minutes off the course record and beat American Jim Wamlsley in the process.

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