On a sunny Sunday morning, Manon Trapp stunned the running community by smashing the French marathon record at the Seville Marathon, clocking in at 2 hours, 23 minutes, and 38 seconds. The previous record, held by Méline Rollin at 2 hours, 24 minutes, and 12 seconds set just last year at the same venue, was eclipsed by Trapp's remarkable performance.
Trapp, who is only 24 years old, has long been recognized for her prowess on cross-country courses, winning multiple national titles. Yet, what made this feat even more compelling was her steady improvement—having suffered a setback last year when she abandoned her marathon attempt at the Rotterdam event.
While running alongside fellow French competitor Mélody Julien, who eventually finished eighth with a time of 2 hours, 26 minutes, and 44 seconds, Trapp maintained her pace of 3 minutes and 24 seconds per kilometer. By the 30-kilometer mark, Julien started to fall behind, but Trapp showed tremendous resilience, overtaking her competitors one by one.
The race saw Trapp initially placed sixth but she quickly ascended through the ranks. By the end of the event, she was engaged in a fierce battle with Kenya's Cynthia Chepchirchir Kosgei for second place, as the Ethiopian runner Anchinalu Dessie Genaneh forged ahead to secure victory with a blistering time of 2 hours, 22 minutes, and 17 seconds.
Trapp's determination and focus came to fruition as she crossed the finish line strongly, achieving not only her personal best but also cementing her name as the new record holder for France. This achievement is particularly significant for Trapp, who had spent months training under the expert guidance of coach Jean-François Pontier, fine-tuning elements of her nutrition and training strategies.
Despite her monumental accomplishment, there is some bittersweet news. Trapp’s new record does not meet the qualifying standards set by the French Athletics Federation for the upcoming World Championships scheduled to take place in Tokyo. The qualifying time stands at 2 hours, 21 minutes, and 13 seconds, leaving Trapp just shy of the mark.
Fans and supporters of French athletics laud Trapp’s dedication and hard work, and this victory serves as motivation for future competitions. With her potential realized on this grand stage, Trapp may very well establish herself as one of France's leading athletes as she continues her pursuit of greatness.