Fifth Swissalpine Marathon in Davos/Switzerland – The uncrowned king and the impressive returnee – By Anita Fuchs

While Jonas Buud celebrated winning his fifth Swissalpine in Davos on Saturday, Elizabeth "Lizzy" Hawker enjoyed her first win since 2007. Both showed reassuring energy reserves when approaching the finishing line.

As every year, Jonas Buud ran onto the tartan track in Davos as the widely celebrated winner. For the first time in 2007and in 2011 for the fifth time already.His latest win was his longest time. The Swede took 6:11:02 hours for the 79.1 kilometres, which led from Davos via Filisur and Bergün to the Keschhütte (2,632 metres above sea level) and further to the Sertigpass (2,739 metres above sea level) and from there back to the start.

But the uncrowned king of Davos displayed more battle scars than ever. He had bloody abrasions on both knees, arms and hands.First he fell on the descent from the Keschhütte in his pursuit of Huw Lobb, who had been the first to pass the first of two obstacleswith a lead of 1:27 minutes. And later,he fell while running down the Sertigpass, which he had been the first to reach.

Heuberger in fourth place as the fastest Swiss runner

As in the past years, Jonas Budd created the foundation for his success between the two highest points of the world's biggest mountain ultra-marathon. He gained more than 4.5 minutes on the 5.4 kilometres compared to his strongest competitor.On the remaining 20 kilometres, the 37-year-old from Mora gradually extended his lead and arrived in Davos with a lead overHuwLobb of 17:37 minutes.

Both Jonas Budd and Huw Lobb stated that they would be back at the start in Davos next year. However, Bruno Heuberger, who lives in St Margarethenin Thurgau and came fourth as the best Swiss runner on Saturday, declined to commit himself to any future participation for professional and family reasons. Up tothree kilometres before the finishing line, he was on course for the podium, but then had to let Japan's Kaburaki Kaburagi pass him.

"I devote this win to Jasmin Nunige"

Less exciting was the women's race, which was held at ideal conditions.Elizabeth "Lizzy" Hawker set the pace from the very beginning and was more than 3.5 minutes ahead of the pack, which was led by Maja Meneghin-Pliska, half way through the race.This order remained unchanged – with the exception of the lead, which was ultimately extended to 11:29.Kajsa Berg, a compatriot of Jonas Buud, was already 20:28 minutes behind Lizzy in third place.

"I dedicate this win to Jasmin Nunige," said Scuol-based "Lizzy" Hawker. The 35-year-old has fought many exciting battles for a podium position in the past with the runner from Davos who was not able to participate in the K78 for health reasons. The win statistics are now even.The English runner won in 2006 (her race record of 6:30:12 still stands), 2007 and 2011, while Nunige from Davos won in 2005, 2008 and 2010.

5382 runners from 62 nations

Although she did not take part in the K78, Jasmin Nunige stood or ran into the spotlight: at 7 o’clock in the morning she fired the starting shot and in the afternoon she ran the classic half-marathon from Klosters to Davos in the fastest time (1:38:40). There was also a famous winner from Graubünden, Woody Schoch (Stels),in the men’s race.

Overall, 5382 runners from 62 nations participated in the eight categories (including MINI).Further foreign wins were celebrated by Trond Idland (Norway/K42), Mari Kauri (China/C42), Darren McNeely and Jenny Jaggar (both GBR/K30) as well as Fredrik Uhrbom (Sweden) and Melanie Albrecht (Germany/both K10).In addition to JasminNunige and Woody Schoch, the honour of the Swiss was also saved by Melissa Dawes from Davos (K42) and Kurt Lustenberger (Aeugst am Albis/C42).

List of winners
K78. Men: 1. Jonas Buud (SWE) 6:11:02. 2. Huw Lobb (GBR) 17:37 behind. 3. Kaburaki Kaburagi (JPN) 30:10. 4. Bruno Heuberger (St. Margarethen) 30:44. 5. Matthias Dippacher (GER) 43:57. 6. Johan Oousthuizen (RSA) 46:02. 7. Dan Übersax (Affoltern am Albis) 52:29. 8. Bram van Rijswijk (NED) 55:54. 9. Isidor Christen (Buchrain) 57:30. 10. Wataru Iino (JPN) 58:53.
Women: 1. Elizabeth Hawker (GBR) 7:16:17. 2. Maja Meneghin-Pliska (Basel) 11:29. 3. Kajsa Berg (SWE) 20:28. 4. Joasia Zakrzewski (GBR) 20:32. 5. Denise Zimmermann (Mels) 35:42.
K42. Men: 1. Trond Idland (NOR) 3:21:52. 2. Stephan Hugenschmidt (GER) 0:06. 3. Gion-Andrea Bundi (Davos) 0:59.
Women: 1. Melissa Dawes (Davos Dorf) 3:56:50. 2. Regula Meier (Niederurnen) 3:45. 3. Petra Summer (AUT) 13:08.
C42. Men: 1. Kurt Lustenberger (Aeugst a. A.) 2:47:38. 2. Gert Mertens (BEL) 6:06. 3. Salah Cimoour (MAR) 12:31.
Women: 1. Mari Kauri (CHN) 3:18:53. 2. Frieda Manser (Appenzell) 3:53. 3. Bianca Schödler (Müligen) 5:18.
K30. Men: 1. Darren McNeely (GBR) 1:54:54. 2. Peter Sulzer (Binningen) 4:50. 3. Adrian McGarva (Bäch) 8:48.
Women: 1. Jenny Jaggar (GBR) 2:03:57. 2. Seraina Mischol (Davos Dorf) 4:57. 3. Virginia Post (Davos Platz) 10:21.
K21. Men: 1. Woody Schoch (Stels) 1:29:44. 2. Michael Dixon (USA) 2:58. 3. Toni Livers (Davos Platz).
Women: 1. Jasmin Nunige (Davos Platz) 1:38:40. 2. Seraina Boner (Klosters) 6:05. 3. Stefanie Doll (GER) 9:31.
K10. Men: 1. Fredrik Uhrbom (SWE) 39:03. 2. René Menzel (GER) 2:44. 3. Reto Good (Mels) 6:49.
Women: 1. Melanie Albrecht (GER) 47:09. 2. Sonya Good (Mels) 5:16. 3. Caroline Röhrl (Büsserach) 6:23.

Full list at www.swissalpine.ch