NEWS  NEWS Zegama – Jornet and Brizio triumph
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Zegama – Jornet and Brizio triumph |
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 Standing World Champions Kilian Jornet and Emanuela Brizio lived up to expectations in the second leg of the Skyrunner® World Series Sunday, May 16, in Zegama, Spain - despite adverse conditions.
In a class of their own, both champions powered their way determinedly through heavy drizzle and mud and faced gusts of wind and snow underfoot along the upper stretches of the gruelling 5,472m vertical climb and 42 km of the Maratón Alpina Zegama-Aizkorri.
Jornet even sliced 5 minutes off the ascent record, although he didn’t quite manage the same feat at the finish line, falling short by three minutes, closing in 3h56’30”, but 12 minutes ahead of the second finisher, local Aitor Osa. Miguel Angel Heras from Spain was third in 4h09’16”.
 Brizio, powered by the same energy, strode confidently at the head of the women’s field - and for most of the men’s, closing in 4h47’51”. Second and third were local runners Nerea Amilibia and Oihana Azkorbebeitia.
Leading the World Series however, are Kilian Jornet and American Megan Kimmel, 7th today. Megan leads the Series thanks to her win in the first Trial on May 8th on Russia’s Mount Elbrus.
510 athletes from 12 countries lined up at the start of this highly popular race, applauded by thousands of enthusiastic spectators all along the course.
Some notable absentees due to injury: last year’s winner, Briton, Ricky Lightfoot; Mexico’s Ricardo Mejia and Spain’s Jokin Lizeaga who will join the Series after recovery.
The next chance to chalk up their scores will be the Trials in Andorra on June 6 and Portugal on June 13. A rich selection follows from August to September across three continents while the main events of the five-race Series continue in France with the Chaberton Marathon, followed by the Pikes Peak Marathon in Colorado, the Sentiero Grigne in Italy and climaxing with Malaysia’s spectacular International Mount Kinabalu Climbathon where athletes gain an extra 20% on their ranking points and the men’s and women’s champions are crowned.
Maratón Alpina Zegama-Aizkorri race results
Men
1 - Kilian Jornet (Salomon-Santiveri Outdoor Team) – 3:56:30
2 - Aitor Osa (Independiente) – 4:08:25
3 - Miguel Heras (Salomon-Santiveri Outdoor Team) – 4:09:15
4 - Fernando Etxegarai (Euskal Herriko Selekzioa) – 4:13:30
5 – Ángel Arrierta (Independiente) – 4:19:12
Women
1 - Emanuela Brizio (Valetudo Skyrunning Italia) – 4:47:50
2 -Nerea Amilibia (Euskal Herriko Selekzioa) – 5:09:54
3 - Ohiana Azkorbebeitia (Independiente) – 5:10:49
Skyrunner® World Series Ranking
Men
Kilian Jornet (Salomon-Santiveri Outdoor Team) – 100 points
Aitor Osa (Independiente) – 88 points
Miguel Heras (Salomon-Santiveri Outdoor Team) – 78 points
Women
Megan Kimmel (La Sportiva Team) – 164 points
Emanuela Brizio (Valetudo Skyrunning Italia) – 100 points
Nerea Amilibia (Euskal Herriko Selekzioa) - 88 points
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