Standing skyrunning world champion Kilian Jornet wins the fifth World Series race and sets an incredible new course record in Italy, July 26, beating Mexico's Ricardo Mejia.  Stefanie Jimenez outstrips rival Emanuela Brizio, who maintains the world ranking lead with Mejia.

More than 500 athletes lined up at the start of the 42 km Giir di Mont, near Lecco in Northern Italy for this popular race celebrating its 17th birthday.

The race featured some of the world’s top skyrunners.  Four headed the leading group:  on the first ascent, Spain’s Agustí Roc summited first;  on the second, Italy’s Fulvio Dapit;  and on the third Jornet and Mejia, who at this point had a near five minute lead over the others.  On the last ascent, Jornet gave it all and was alone.  “It was a really fast race as you can see by the finish time.  Five minutes less than the record time set last year.”  His record time was 3h05’08”.

Ricardo Mejia, crossed the finish only just over a minute later, slicing six minutes off his performance in 2007 on the same course!  With 23 years difference between the two athletes, Mejia’s performance merits a big applause.

Italy’s Emanuela Brizio who is leading the Series with four straight wins, led from the start but couldn’t hold the pace due to severe cramps, and opening the way for her rival, Andorra’s Jimenez who overtake her.  She held a two minute advantage gained on the last ascents right to the finish line, closing in 4h05’44”.  Third, was 22-year old Catalan Mireia Miro, a young athlete with a lot of promise.

Among the great athletes present, young and old, a performance that didn’t go unnoticed was that of 80-year old local, Antonio Gianola, a veteran of all 17 events. He closed comfortably below the maximum time limit of seven hours in 6h54’09” – evidence that skyrunning has come a long way with three generations participating in a single race!

The Skyrunner®World Series continues with a Trial in Montgènevre, France on August 2 with the Chaberton Marathon. Look out for Ricardo Mejia in the Pikes Peak Marathon in Colorado, USA on August 16, the 6th World Series race.

Race results

Men
1. Kilian Jornet  3h05’08”
2. Ricardo Mejia 3h06’41”
3. Jessed Hernandez 3h15’50”

Women
1.  Stephanie Jimenez 4h05’44”
2.  Emanuela Brizio 4h07’47”
3.  Mireia  Miro 4h11’05”

Skyrunner®World Series ranking (extract)

Men
1. Ricardo Mejia (MEX)  354 points
2. Fulvio Dapit (ITA) 302 points
3. Kilian Jornet (SPA) 268 points

Women
1. Emanuela Brizio (ITA) 400 points
2. Stephanie Jimenez (AND) 348 points
3. Rosa Madureira (POR) 266 points

Full World Series ranking results 

Photo Mejia:  Newspower