KATHMANDU: Suman Kulung Rai and Anna Comati won the ninth Everest Trail Race, the world’s toughest high-altitude trail race, which concluded in Lukla yesterday.

In the men’s category, Rai completed six stages from Dhap Patale to Lukla of Solukhumbu district in 20 hours, 51 minutes and 36 seconds to win the race, Kami Sherpa, managing director at Annapurna Treks Expedition Pvt Ltd informed.

Morales Gerard from Spain bagged the second position with the timing of 23 hours, 28 minutes and 29 seconds, while Norwegian Shedsrod Hans came third in 23 hours and 54 minutes.

In the women’s category, Comati from Sapin clocked 26 hours, 20 minutes and 56 seconds to finish first, while Brazilian Manuela Vilaseca clocked 29 hours 29 minutes and five seconds, and Nuria Dominguez of Spain completed the trail in 30 hours, three minutes and 47 seconds to become second and third in the women’s category respectively, Sherpa said.

A total of 45 runners, including three Nepalis, all from 12 different countries took part in the race which started from Dhap Patale of Dolakha district on November 11. The top three finishers in both the categories have been given a cash prize of 1,000 Euros, 750 Euros and 250 Euros respectively, according to organisers.

Annapurna Treks and Expedition Pvt Ltd, in association with Grands Space of Spain has organised the ninth Everest Trail Race, covering over 175 km in the Khumbu region. The trail runners ran through Solukhumbu district’s Pikey, Namche and Tengboche among other scenic places before culminating in Lukla at an altitude of 4,070 metres.

According to Sherpa, Annapurna Treks has been organising the race since 2011 with an aim of preserving the route used by Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Edmund Hillary while climbing Mt Everest five decades ago.