April 19, 2011 (Kamchatka, Russia) – FIS World Cup overall winner Justyna Kowalczyk (POL) won the 18th annual 60km Avacha Marathon in Kamchatka where she is recuperating. Kowalczyk promised organizers she would return and kept her word showing up at the start line despite being in the middle of her rest period.

“The first 30km of the race were pretty tough for her,” commented Alexander Wierietielny, Kowalczyk’s coach. “Later in the race she did not have any problems.”

Kowalczyk dominated the Avacha Marathon for her second consecutive win and like last year donated the prize money to the local sport club for its development. She’ll spend one more week in Kamchatka and then will return to Poland to spend Easter with her family.

Read more HERE.