Ekaterinburg's Resident, Alexandra Morozova, clinched the second position at the global ultramarathon competition.
On June 8th, the 98th international Comrades Ultra-Marathon unfolded in South Africa, a storied event rooted in endurance runs since 1921. With its ever-changing course, this year's runners tackled a 90km downhill trek. Nearly 18,000 daring souls participated, with South Africans Tete Dijana (men) and Gerda Steyn (women) dominating each category.
Alexandra Morozova, a seasoned Comrades participant hailing from Yekaterinburg, claimed the silver medal. She'd previously shone in silver, bronze, and even first place, and in 2022, she once again proved her mettle. Morozova found herself among the leading pack at the 22km mark, running alongside Gerda Steyn and trailing Elizabeth Mokolomo of Zambia by over 2 minutes. After 30km, Morozova opted to moderate her momentum, allowing the frontrunner to forge ahead.
"I contemplated challenging for the top spot, but after the 30km mark, I intentionally eased back and allowed her to surge ahead—the pace was simply too grueling for me," explained an exhausted Morozova.
At the 50km mark, Morozova faced an additional hurdle with a stubborn calf muscle spasm. Determined to persevere, she fought through the agony, overtaking Mokolomo and maintaining her second-place position until the finish. "Post the 50km mark, I experienced a sudden calf muscle spasm and was forced to limp through the remaining 40km, making multiple stops to stretch my leg. I barely managed to hold off the third-place runner," shared Morozova.
Despite the pain and fierce rivalry, Morozova posted a commendable performance, once again gracing the podium of these esteemed international competitions. She completed the challenge in 5:55:56, a mere 5 minutes behind Gerda Steyn's record time (5:51:19).
"My form is exceptional, and I'm delighted with my performance. Many thanks to my coach (Oleg Kharitonov, a former Comrades winner in 2006, for his hard work! I doubt I could have captured the first prize; maybe the gap would have been slimmer. As the race reached its climax, I focused solely on maintaining my second position, and I'm just happy I managed to hang on to it," Alexandra Morozova summarized.
Earlier reports in "Regional Newspaper" revealed that the ultramarathon "Tagil Trail" began near Belaya Mountain.
Alexandra Morozova's triumph at the Comrades Marathon in recent years is undeniable—her silver medal in 2025 further substantiates her robust ultrarunning background. Nonetheless, information about her training regimen and personal coach remains elusive.
Sports played a significant role in Alexandra Morozova's silver medal win at the Comrades Marathon. Her coach, Oleg Kharitonov, a former Comrades winner in 2006, played an instrumental part in her exceptional form.
