Records tumble in George MUT

Update

NATIONAL NEWS - Pristine conditions and clear skies allowed top South African and international trail runners to post blistering times across a range of distances at the 2025 Mountain Ultra Trail (MUT) by UTMB.

Despite daytime berg winds bringing unusually high autumn temperatures, the weather gods were smiling on the athletes.

Five of a possible eight new course records were set on Saturday 24 May, with Nicolette Griffioen, Emily Djock and Samantha Reilly all setting new records.

George local Rebecca Kohne delighted home fans by grabbing the win in the marathon distance, and Italian Andrea Biffi raced his way clear of the field to win the flagship 100-miler distance.

George local Rebecca Kohne pops the bubbly at the end of her MUT Marathon win. Photo: Jeff AyliffeThe miler field got under way at midday on Friday, and before the sun set, it was clear that nobody would be able to match Biffi's pace. The 34-year-old Italian extended his advantage through virtually every checkpoint. Despite this, his march to victory was anything but smooth.

"It's been hard today, really hard," Biffi grimaced. "We went out quite strong, and after the first technical section, I felt my legs completely shut down. I got cramps all over and had to stop to shake my legs."

Biffi finished in 24:10:25, 91 minutes quicker than Admire Muzopambwa in second. Pierre Jordaan completed the podium places.

Griffioen dominates women's miler

Nicolette Griffioen dominated the women's race even more comprehensively and finished an incredible fourth overall. Considering she had won the Ultra Trail Drakensberg Miler just a month ago, her performance was even more spectacular.

The South Africans' winning time was nearly five hours faster than the previous best time.

Lodelia Kombrink and Simone Malan finished second and third.

Having stepped up in distance from the MUT 60 to the MUT 100, Emily Djock took 59 minutes and 51 seconds off the 100km course record. This American, who lives in Cape Town was, like Griffioen, the fourth athlete over the line in her race distance. Emilie Maroteaux and Elrita Blignaut joined Djock on the podium.

The MUT 100 also saw a new men's course record as Daniel Jung took 47 minutes off Axel Sleeus's time from last year. Dominik Matt and local star Brandon Hulley also shattered the old record on their way to finishing second and third.

Good day out for Reilly clan

The MUT 60 was a family affair for the Reilly clan. Brother Kane regained the title he had last won in 2022, but missed the course record by an agonising 54 seconds.

His sister, Samantha's time of 6:30:51 was 47 minutes quicker than Djock's 2024 record and nearly 15 minutes better than Douglas Pickard's effort, which secured him third behind Reilly and Jacques Buys.

The MUT Marathon saw popular winners in the form of mountain man Robbie Rorich and the hometown heroine Rebecca Kohne.

Rorich managed to lower the already exceptionally competitive record from 4:07 to 4:05. Kohne took 10 minutes off her personal best for the route.

Having only stepped up to competing in trail marathons in 2024, the 22-year-old will surely be back to challenge for the record in 2026.

The action continued into Sunday with the last MUT Miler athletes battling home to beat the cut-off, and the shorter distance races.

Nearly 1 000 trail runners were on the line on the final day of the event, taking on the 12km MUT Lite and the 25km MUT Challenge.

The shortest distance champions were Sindrino Matthews, who defended the title he had won in 2024, and 16-year-old Glenwood House student Bailee Nell. Jacques du Plessis won the men's race in the MUT Challenge, and Mila Geldenhuys added the 2025 crown to her 2024 winner's medal in the women's.

An athlete traversing the Outeniqua Mountains during the MUT Miler. Photo: Zac ZinnMUT Miler winner Andrea Biffi crosses the finish line. Photo: Claudia Robson