Jornet and Brizio - Ultra Champions
Kilian takes a bow at Kima
After leaving what he felt was a disappointing situation in Chamonix on Friday night, 2009 Skyrunning World Series winner Kilian Jornet headed for the Kima Trophy Ultra SkyMarathon® in northern Italy to exercise his excellent form at the moment…
The race doubled up as the inaugural Ultra SkyMarathon® World Championships, and Kilian’s diversion was highly worthwhile as he and fellow 2009 Skyrunning World Series winner Eamnuela Brizio crushed the male and female opposition – and the course records.
Full ISF / event release
Sondrio, Italy
August 29, 2010
Kilian Jornet, reigning skyrunning world champion, added the Ultra SkyMarathon® World Champion title to his extraordinary career today after winning one of the most technically demanding and gruelling events on the outdoor calendar. Italy’s Emanuela Brizio, also 2009 world champion, took the women’s title and both set a new course records.
Jornet, the 23 year-old skyrunning phenomenon from Catalonia, Spain, lined up at the start of the Kima Trophy Ultra SkyMarathon® Sunday, August 29, in northern Italy after the cancellation of the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc on Friday, where he had been aiming for a third victory.
Kilian Jornet
His winning time, and record, was 6h19’03”, 24’26” faster than the course record set in 2008. His team-mate Miguel Heras placed second in today’s event, crossing the finish in 6h29’52”. Third was Italian Nicola Goldinelli in 6h32’50”.
The Kima Trophy Ultra SkyMarathon® has for 15 years been a landmark event for ultra runners thanks to the highly technical 49.5 km course over seven passes with 3,800m vertical climb – a massive 7,600m of ascent and descent. Treacherous moraine, snowfields and exposed crests feature largely on the course, with loose boulders and fixed ropes required to assist the vertical ascents and descents.
Jornet, in command from the start, was initially followed closely by Italians Nicola Goldinelli and Paolo Larger together with Heras. He soon adjusted to the hazards and difficulties and maintained his advantage throughout. Larger retired with an injury and Heras overtook Goldinelli on the last section of the descent.
In the women’s field, Brizio ran a close ascent with rival Italian Carolina Tiraboschi, but Brizio’s prowess prevailed, pushing ahead to the summit and running the second leg of the race alone. Brizio’s time was 7h46’37”, beating her own 2008 record by 12’31”. Tiraboschi, second, closed in 7h55’09” and third was Cinzia Bertasa in 8h58’08”.
Emanuela Brizio
This first-ever Ultra SkyMarathon® open world title is assigned every four years by the International Skyrunning Federation which selected this legendary venue for the 2010 title.
Race results can be found here with further photo coverage on the Salomon running Facebook page
