A star-studded line-up is forecast for the Skyrunner® World Series final in Malaysia on October 24 and 25.  The steepest race on the eight-race circuit reaches the summit of Asia’s second highest mountain, Mount Kinabalu(4,095m), towering above the tropical rainforest on the island of Borneo. 

Theworld’s top ranked athletes will compete at the Mount Kinabalu International Climbathon including standing champion Kilian Jornet, one of skyrunning’s brightest stars.  The top ten places are dominated by Spaniards, including Agustí Roc, three-times world champion, Toful Castanyer, Just Sociats and Jordi Bes.  Second and third ranked are Italians Paolo Larger and Fulvio Dapit and Britain is represented by Ricky Lightfoot, seventh and Tom Owens, 13th.

Series leader Ricardo Mejia from Mexico is still injured and has had to abandon the contest and also Jokin Lizeaga from Spain, ranked fourth, is also unfit to race.

The forecast for the women’s category, which is run on the 24th, Italy’s Emanuela Brizio, the current leader, is the hot favourite to take the World Champion title.  Right behind Brizio is Andorra’s Stephanie Jimenez looking good, while Spain has produced yet another promising young athlete in 22 year-old Mireia Mirò, third.

However, the first eight men and the first three women all stand a good chance of winning the title as double points are awarded in this final race. 

Local athletes and runners from the Philippines and Japan are expected to perform well in the race.  In the mens’ category:  Malaysia’s Safrey Sumping and Mius Balanting; Japan’s Toru Miyahara and in the women’s category:  Malaysia’s Danny Kuilin and Japan’s Kambara Yuri.
  
The world’s top mountain runners together with the exotic environment and warm Sabah hospitality, make this Skyrunner® World Series final a memorable event.

The 2010 World Series calendar races will be announced after the two Skyrunning World Champions are crowned on Sunday, October 25.

Final ranking