Alyona Tatarinova Announces Planned 90-Kilometer Run in South Africa on June 8th
Rewritten Article
Dang, look who made some moves at the Russian Marathon Championships in Kazan! Yesterday, Alena Tatarinova and Natalia Leonтьева snatched two medals, making Yakut athletics history and copying the victorious footsteps of their mentor, five-time Russian marathon champion Sardana Trofimova.
The race saw Kenyan Judith Cherono storming into first place (2 hours 29 minutes 21 seconds), breaking Trofimova's Kazan Marathon record by 8 seconds in the process. Mara Kovalёva came in second (2:30:27), earning the title of Russian champion, while last year's winner, Luiza Dmitriyeva, and Alena Tatarinova unfolded an epic battle for third place until the final stretch.
A mere 2 seconds separated the two Yakut athletes in the end, with Tatarinova claiming second place in the last-minute scramble. Just when you thought things were wrapped up, Leonтьеva almost overtook her at the finish line, ultimately ending in a tie (2 hours 33 minutes 22 seconds). Remember that heart-pounding moment? Well, traditionally, who cares about hundredths of a second, right? The Tatarstan brotherly nation's competition organizers realized this and decided to give both talented runners a well-deserved bronze medal!
Alena Tatarinova shared her thoughts on this rollercoaster experience on social media:
"Well, guess what? Today I'm the bronze medalist of the Russian Championship! My fellow countryman Natalia Leontyeyeva and I shared the third place. I can't lie, I'm a bit disappointed. Luiza Dmitriyeva and I were neck and neck for most of the race. I thought I had it in the bag... And suddenly, 5 meters from the finish line, I see Natalia catching up! Unreal, I know! Oh well, I guess that's what they call a lesson. From now on, I'll keep an eye behind me. Don't repeat my mistakes. Sadly, I didn't improve my personal record this time: last year it was 2:32:06, and this year - 2:33:22. The course was better, and the weather was perfect. But like I always say, every start is an experience, and it pushes me even harder to keep going. Thanks to everyone for your support and belief."
A fan commented, "You made us so happy! What's your next move?" To which Alena replied, "I can't wait for the 90 km ultra-marathon in South Africa on June 8th!"
Tatyana Yurievna Zhirkova, the honored coach and three-time world champion in the 100 km run, also the trainer of Alena Tatarinova and Sardana Trofimova, is no stranger to achievements herself. Recently, another of her trainees, Petr Zakhаров, ran the London Marathon, earning the coveted "six-star" medal for finishing the six most prestigious marathons in the world.
During their youth, both Alena Tatarinova and Sardana Trofimova shared a room at a sports school in their home region, Verkhnevilyuysky ulus. Their friend Izabella Egorova was also part of the crew, with whom Alena later opened the sports store "Run Master". Alena Usknaeva, a budding schoolgirl athlete and Yakutia record holder in the adult category on the 800 and 1500 meters, later became Alena Tatarinova and married her fellow athlete, Mikhail Tatarinov. After raising two sons, Damir and Stan, she took a break from running, but her native ulus reached out and asked for her help to defend its honor. She entered the marathon at the Sports Games of the Peoples of Yakutia in Amga, winning with a new Games record.
Meanwhile, another Yakut runner, Natalia Leonтьeva, from Suntarsky ulus, has an impressive track record in mountain running and cross-country. In 2024, she became the silver and bronze medalist of the Russian half-marathon (21.1 km). Alena and Natalia won bronze medals at the Russian team championship in the marathon in Pushkin in 2023. Let's wish Alena the best of luck at the "Comrades" ultra-marathon in South Africa on June 8th, a prestigious race that's been running since 1921 and will take place for the 98th time. Runners who complete the course within the 12-hour limit receive medals made of real gold, silver, and bronze. Tatyana Zhirkova won the "Comrades" in 2005 with the second-fastest time in history, 89 km in 5 hours, 58 minutes, and 50 seconds, and took third in 2009. We have no doubts she'll be a great inspiration for Alena!
- Yakut athlete Alena Tatarinova, who secured a bronze medal in the Russian Marathon Championships recently, announced her participation in a 90 km ultra-marathon in South Africa on June 8th.
- Natalia Leonťеva, a Yakut runner with a notable track record in mountain running and cross-country, won a bronze medal at the Russian team championship in the marathon alongside Alena Tatarinova in Pushkin in 2023.
- Incidentally, the Russian Marathon Championships in Kazan saw a close competition between Tatarinova and Leonťеva in their hundredths of seconds, with the race being declared a tie between them for third place.
