American winners in inaugural EcoTrail Al Ula

The inaugural edition of EcoTrail Al Ula in Saudi Arabia saw American runners take victory in the first international trail running event in the country. Michael Wardian and Amy Sproston emerged from the rocky sand desert back in the Sahary Resort in Al Ula after 8h 19 and 10h02 respectively. EcoTrail Al Ula saw four race categories of which the 83km was the longest. Elevation gain was limited but after a very runable 65km the terrain got more technical with a few rock climbs. That race was also a points race for the 2020 Asia Trail Master Championship, the first of its kind in the Middle East.

Belgium’s Pierre Breuer finished second behind Wardian and 2017 ATM Champion Steven Ong from Malaysia completed the podium in third. Trung Nguyen -with an injured right knee - struggled home in fifth behind Jordan’s Salameh Alaqra.

Indonesia’s Ruth Theresia, the 2018 ATM women’s champion, was a solid second behind Sprotson. Third place was for Rachel Bessette.