Owens takes first SWS win in Italy
Tom Owens wins Sentiero delle Grigne
The UK’s Tom Owens continued his great season yesterday as he raced to his first Skyrunner® World Series win at the super-tough Sentiero delle Grigne race in Italy. Poor weather conditions in the region forced a reduction in race distance, but Owens romped to the win with a master descent…
After wins in the UK at the Carnethy 5, round one of the British fell champs, a close second place behind Kilian Jornet at the classic Zegama race in Spain, a multi-stage win at the 4 Trails race in Germany, and a strong 3rd place run at the recent Trans Rockies Run with team-mate Ricky Lightfoot, Tom is having a superb year and by far his best-ever.
Full ISF release
Hernando (left) and Kortazar - SWS Champions 2011
Hernando and Kortazar world champions
As the toughest race on the circuit, Sunday’s Sentiero delle Grigne didn’t disappoint. The 2011 Skyrunner® World Series final proved a harder test than was anticipated by the 439 competitors. With lashing rain, thunder and lightning, the original 43 km course and massive vertical climb, had to be reduced.
A double victory for Spain with the world champion titles going to ranking leaders Luis Alberto Hernando, third, and Oihana Kortazar, second.
Race winners on the day were Britain’s Tom Owens who completed the course in 2h23’54” and Italy’s Emanuela Brizio, 2009 and 2010 world champion, 2h57’52”.
Owens was thrilled with his win after battling against skyrunning giant Kilian Jornet in Zegama for second place at the start of the season. Finally his turn for victory, he let loose on the downhill and conquered the finish line over the last five kilometers.
Tom with his Sentiero delle Grigne trophy
Brizio was also very happy with her win and paid homage to Kortazar’s supremacy over the season – despite the 13 year age difference.
The final concludes the Series which embraced eleven countries across four continents. The world titles are awarded on the sum of four main races and one trial.
Apart from the € 10,000 prize purse, the winners are invited to the Skyrunner® SuperCup on Malaysia’s Mount Kinabalu on October 22 and 23 where skyrunning champions and record holders will contend for the trophy.
Look out for next year’s exciting World Series calendar – full of surprises with a taste for every skyrunner.
Provisional 2011 Skyrunner® World Series final ranking
M
Luis Hernando (ESP) – 371 points
Mikhail Maamlev (ITA)– 346 points
Jabi Olabarria (ESP) – 309 points
W
Oihana Kortazar (ESP) – 405 points
Emanuela Brizio (ITA) – 376 points
Stephanie Jimenez (FRA) – 320 points
Final 2011 Skyrunner® World Series athlete and team ranking available here Sentiero delle Grigne race results are here
