Fabienne Vonlanthen and Robin Mennet secured national titles at the Swiss Half Marathon Championships in Locarno. Vonlanthen made history by becoming the first Swiss woman to win the 10km, marathon, and half marathon national championships in a single season. Mennet claimed his first-ever Swiss Championship gold, setting a personal best time.
Key Takeaways
- Fabienne Vonlanthen achieved a historic 'long-distance triple' in Swiss road running.
- Robin Mennet secured his first national gold medal in the men's half marathon.
- The event took place on a 21.1 km course in Locarno, concluding the 2025 national championship season.
- Rawa Iseli won her third consecutive U20 half marathon title.
Vonlanthen Achieves Historic Triple Victory
Fabienne Vonlanthen, representing LC Schaffhausen, was the favorite in the women's race. She completed the 21.1-kilometer course, which started and finished in Locarno, in a winning time of 1:14:07 hours. Her performance on the Piazza Grande marked a significant achievement in Swiss athletics.
Vonlanthen's victory in Locarno completed a remarkable 'long-distance triple' for the 32-year-old athlete. She had previously won the 10-kilometer Swiss Championship in Courroux in March. Following this, she secured the Marathon Swiss Championship title in Geneva in May. This series of victories makes her the first Swiss woman to win all three road running national titles in a single season.
Behind Vonlanthen, Vera Schubert finished second with a time of 1:15:04. Martina Strähl of LV Langenthal took third place, clocking 1:17:42. The STB team demonstrated strong collective performance, winning the women's team classification.
Historic Feat
Fabienne Vonlanthen's wins in the 10 km, marathon, and half marathon Swiss Championships in one season set a new national record for Swiss women athletes.
Mennet Secures First National Gold
In the men's competition, Robin Mennet of LC Uster celebrated his first-ever Swiss Championship gold medal. The 24-year-old runner set a new personal best time of 1:06:16 hours. He managed his energy effectively throughout the race, maintaining a consistent pace that led him to victory.
Mennet's previous best results at the Locarno event included two bronze medals. He earned a bronze in the half marathon in 2023 and another over 10,000 meters in 2025. This year's gold medal represents a significant career milestone for him.
Jerome Furer of LV Thun secured the silver medal, finishing in 1:06:57. Simon Ammann of TV Thalwil earned the bronze with a time of 1:07:18. The fastest overall runner of the day was Eritrean long-distance specialist Seare Weldezghi of LC Uster, who finished in 1:05:04.
"Winning my first gold medal at the Swiss Championships is an incredible feeling. I focused on maintaining a steady pace, and it paid off," said Robin Mennet after his victory.
Team Success and U20 Highlights
LC Uster, the club of men's champion Robin Mennet and overall fastest runner Seare Weldezghi, also excelled in the team competition. They claimed the men's team title, showcasing the depth of talent within their ranks. The team's combined effort led to a dominant performance at the championships.
The event also featured impressive performances from younger athletes. Rawa Iseli of STB delivered a notable race, finishing fifth overall in the women's category with a time of 1:19:22 hours. This strong showing also earned her a victory in the U20 category.
This marks Iseli's third consecutive win at the Half Marathon Swiss Championships in the U20 division. Her consistent performance highlights her as a rising star in Swiss long-distance running. In the U20 men's race, Alex Stricker of TV Riehen was the fastest, completing the course in 1:10:13.
Event Significance
The Half Marathon Swiss Championships in Locarno marked the final national championship event of the 2025 athletics calendar. This race brings together top athletes from across Switzerland to compete for national honors.
Detailed Race Results
The Ascona-Locarno Run served as the venue for the Swiss Half Marathon Championships. The results reflect both the overall finishers and the national championship standings.
Men's Results
- Seare Weldezghi (LC Uster/ERI): 1:05:04
- Stephen Mwangi Njeri (RUN2GETHER/KEN): 1:05:37
- (1st SM) Robin Mennet (LC Uster): 1:06:16
- Simon Kamau Njeri (RUN2GETHER/KEN): 1:06:51
- (2nd SM) Jerome Furer (LV Thun): 1:06:57
- (3rd SM) Simon Ammann (TV Thalwil): 1:07:18
Men's Teams:
- 1st: LC Uster (Weldezghi, Mennet, Janis Gächter) - 3:22:21
- 2nd: LV Thun (Furer, Marco Fasel, Stefan Trummer) - 3:24:45
- 3rd: TV Thalwil (Ammann, Florian Suter, Ivan Strebel) - 3:27:51
U20 Men:
- 1st: Alex Stricker (TV Riehen) - 1:10:13
Women's Results
- Fabienne Vonlanthen (LC Schaffhausen): 1:14:07
- Vera Schubert: 1:15:04
- Martina Strähl (LV Langenthal): 1:17:42
Women's Teams:
- 1st: STB (Iseli, Stefanie Barmet, Rahel Meili) - 4:02:27
- 2nd: smrun Frauen Team 1 (Rachel Poffet, Claudia Meili, Doris Koller) - 4:24:18
- 3rd: smrun Frauen Team 2 (Nafissa Hannesen, Janet Francisci, Silvia Buholzer) - 4:34:34
U20 Women:
- 1st: Rawa Iseli (STB) - 1:19:22
The event concluded a successful season of national athletics, celebrating both established champions and emerging talents in Swiss long-distance running.