High in the Andes, the Merrell Andes Mountain Skyrace delivered another spectacular chapter of high-altitude racing as athletes battled across a demanding 34-kilometre course featuring 3,250 metres of vertical gain and reaching a breathtaking high point of 5,444 metres above sea level. As the second race of the Merrell Skyrunner® World Series, the event once again showcased the essence of skyrunning on one of the sport’s most dramatic stages.
In the men’s race, the decisive move came on the climb toward the summit when José Manuel Quispe of Peru (team Merrell) began to assert control of the race. Returning to Federación at kilometre 22, Quispe had opened up a commanding 13-minute lead over fellow Peruvian Fran Muñoz. Behind them, Morgan Elliot of the USA (team Merrell) was charging hard, sitting just one minute behind second place and setting up an intense battle for the podium.
Quispe maintained his advantage to seal a dominant victory after six hours and three minutes, — a result made even sweeter after missing out on the 2025 win by mere seconds. Muñoz held on to secure second place, while Elliot’s late push earned him third and a well-deserved spot on the podium.
The women’s race saw Rosalía Zegarra of Peru (team CIVA) take control from the early stages. By the time the athletes returned from the summit section, Zegarra had dramatically extended her lead while running comfortably inside the overall top ten.
Delivering a commanding performance, Zegarra crossed the finish line to claim victory with a time of 07:41:20. Lina El Kott of Sweden (team Merrell) finished in second place, with Ana María Pineda of Colombia (team Merrell) completing the women’s podium in third.
Once again, the Merrell Andes Mountain Skyrace proved why the Andes are one of the spiritual homes of the sport — an incredible skyrace where the combination of altitude, steep terrain and raw mountain landscapes ensures that skyrunning truly lives up to its name.
The series continues next weekend, on March the 14th, with its first European race, Acantilados del Norte on the island of La Palma. More info. HERE.
