Our trail queen wins at UTCT

GEORGE NEWS - George trail runner Rebecca Kohne delivered a breakthrough performance at the RMB Ultra-trail Cape Town (UTCT) this weekend, winning the women's Peninsula Traverse 55km in her first-ever ultra-distance race.

As the finale of the World Trail Majors, the three-day festival that started on Friday 21 November drew 2 800 athletes from 66 countries to take on six distances ranging from 16km to the gruelling 100-mile ultra.

Kohne crossed the finish line in 06:11:44, holding off strong international competition to claim the top spot. France's Olivia Dubern finished second in 06:16:59, followed by Nepal's Ram Maya Budha in 06:21:28.

Kohne's calm, disciplined run over one of the Western Cape's toughest technical routes proved a highlight for local supporters. She is no stranger to tough mountain races.

She has an impressive trail-running résumé, including back-to-back wins in the George Mountain Ultra-trail in 2024 and 2025, when she also set one of the course's fastest times and cut 10 minutes off her previous best.

Internationally, she claimed victory and a course record at Croatia's Istria 100 (21km) in 2023, and she also holds the women's record for the deman-ding Six Peaks Route in the Outeniqua Mountains.

But even with all the experience, Kohne says her latest victory at the UTCT 55km still doesn't feel real.

Going into her first ultra with modest expectations and a goal of finishing in the top five, she surprised even herself by crossing the line first in a highly competitive international field. Kohne, who trained specifically for the event, said race day simply came together.

"I think I just had a good day, and I'm lucky I got one."

Her only challenge came after descending into Constantia when her left quad tightened up, but she managed it by adjusting her strategy and focusing on problem-solving rather than pushing through pain.

SA's finest take the crown

Douglas Pickard, who has competed in and won the George Mountain Ultra-trial in recent years, claimed the men's 100-miler title in 21:49:11, followed by Aleksei Tolstenko (22:40:48) and Zimbabwe's Admire Muzopambwa (22:41:40).

South African Nicolette Griffioen won the women's race in a record-breaking 24:39:42, beating Hillary Allen's 2022 record.

The victory marked an incredible year for Griffioen, winning four 100-milers with four new records.

Simone Malan (26:39:35) and Kerry-Ann Marshall (27:26:30) rounded out an all-South African women's podium.

The men's 100km title went to Jeff Mogavero (USA) in 11:04:53, narrowly ahead of Dmitry Mityaev (Russia), while Sunmaya Budha (Nepal) dominated the women's race with a commanding 12:25:55 victory.

A determined Rebecca Kohne powers towards the finish during the RMB Ultra-trail Cape Town Peninsula Traverse 55km. Photo: Fahwaaz Cornelius