In-form home favourite Carolina Johnson won her second title in the 30km at the TCS Lidingöloppet, the first World Athletics Cross Country Tour Silver event of the 2025-26 season, on Saturday (27).
And she made history by setting a course record of 1:49:19 to become the first woman ever to finish under the 1:50-barrier. “It feels absolutely amazing,” said Johnson, who regained the title she won for the first time in 2023.
Just like last year, the blue-riband 30km turned into a head-to-head between the Denmark-based Kenyan Sylvia Medugu – a four-time winner of this race – and one Carolina. In 2024, it was Carolina Wikström; this year, it was Johnson.
Medugu once again had a big lead and seemed to be on her way to a record fifth victory. But Johnson - who recently set a half marathon lifetime best of 70:32 in wet conditions in Copenhagen - delivered a tremendous finish, overtaking the Kenyan just a few kilometers from the finish.
At the finish, Johnson broke into a wide smile and crossed the line, adorned with the customary giant laurel wreath, with the time of 1:49:19 – more than two minutes faster than Wikström’s course record from last year.
“It feels absolutely fantastic. I felt strong and had amazing support throughout the race. Breaking the course record was really special, given the history of Lidingöloppet and all the incredible runners who have competed here before,” said Johnson.
Medugu lost almost two minutes on Johnson in the latter stages but was still safe in second in 1:51:18 with fellow Swede Evelina Henrikssen third in 1:52:40.
Kenyan veteran William Nyarondia, who is also based in Denmark, dashed the hopes of a Swedish double with victory in the men’s race in 1:37:15 to regain the title he won some 10 years ago.
Just 12 days after contesting the marathon in hot and humid conditions in Tokyo, last year’s winner Ebba Chala Tulu showed remarkable powers of recovery to finish a close second in 1:37:26 with fellow Swede Simon Sundström finishing third in 1:38:09.
Veteran David Nilsson won the adjoining 15km in 46:40 ahead of Axel Djuberg (47:17) and 19-year-old Karl Ottfalk (47:54).
Ottfalk won silver in the 5000m and bronze in the 3000m at the European Athletics U20 Championships in Tampere and will be one of the medal favourites in the same category at the SPAR European Cross Country Championships in Lagoa, Portugal on 14 December.
Another rising Swedish distance running prospect Sebastian Lörstad won the U20 10km in 29:59 by over one minute. The 17-year-old has lifetime bests of 7:52.15 for 3000m and 13:43.27 for 5000m and was a dominant winner of the 3000m at the European Youth Olympic Festival in Skopje in July.
The Lidingöloppet is the world’s biggest cross country race with 31,500 registered participants taking part across the programme, including 15,000 in the classic 30km race.