The 2025 season brought together the world’s most promising young skyrunners, testing their endurance, technical skill, and determination. After months of competition and exceptional consistency, Claudia Corral and Tom Spencer emerged at the top of the U23 rankings, securing their place among the sport’s rising stars.
The Merrell Skyrunner® World Series is thrilled to announce that Claudia Corral of Spain (team Scarpa) and Tom Spencer of the UK (team Inov8) have emerged as the champions of the Under 23 (U23) category of the 2025 series after a decisive victory at the final event held today at the EDP Sobrescobio Redes Trail.
The 13th race of the circuit was the spectacular finale of the U23 classification — the Trofeo Esteban Olivero U23 — which took place in the Parque Natural de Redes, making the 17.5 km/1,100 m+ “Speed Trail” route a thrilling and technical battlefield for the young skyrunning athletes.
AN EPIC FINAL RACE
In the women’s category, Claudia Corral delivered a standout performance, securing the win at the final race and thereby securing the overall U23 title. Second place in the U23 category went to Carodilla Cabestre of Spain (Open Team) and Rachel Hebaus of the USA was third overall.
In the men’s field, Tom Spencer came out victorious after a tough fight with Ibai Larrea of the Basque Country, winning the Sobrescobio final and clinching the overall U23 championship. Second in the U23 category was Finlay Grant of the UK (team Scarpa) and third place went to Marcos Villamuera of Spain (team Scarpa).
DESERVING CHAMPIONS
Claudia Corral, representing Spain, Team Scarpa, showcased remarkable strength and agility throughout the season, taking home a win at Mourne Skyline in Northern Ireland and Ibarra Skyrace. Her dedication and precision set a new benchmark for emerging female athletes in the discipline.
Corral comments: “I have a background in cross-country and I have been training for this, so I was feeling fast and knew it was a race I’d have to run. I started very fast with the goal of trying to maintain this on the climb and the technical section and give it my all. I also knew I was well positioned on the course, so today was the day to take a chance and go all out. I was tied with Carrodilla, so whoever wins today wins the series. It’s very important for young athletes to have these types of events and courses that support and encourage them, helping them gain confidence for the transition to the senior category. I think it’s great that the SWS circuit is investing in this category because, in the end, the absolute jump is very difficult, there’s a high level of competition, and here you gain confidence, you adapt a little to the distance, the gradient, and it seems like a good option to me.”
Tom Spencer, from Great Britain, Team Inov8, delivered a series of powerful performances, with a 2nd place at Mourne Skyline in Northern Ireland, 2nd place at Tatra Skyrace, and a 1st place at Corendon in Turkey.
Spencer comments: “It was a great race. I felt really strong at the top, so after that, I just had to go as fast as possible on the descent, since Ibai is very strong. He beat me on the descent in the previous race, so today I had to try to defend my lead. I really liked the layout today. The SWS U23 season has been a great way to race against the world’s best skyrunners in some amazing races across the world. From steep climbs to technical descents, the races were all thoroughly enjoyable, and I’m very happy to have come away with 2 race wins and the overall victory. I’ll definitely be back next year to compete again in the series, along with some fell and cross-country races in the UK.”
EXTRAORDINARY TALENT AND PASSION FOR THE SPORT
“This year’s U23 athletes have demonstrated extraordinary talent and passion for the sport,” said Seana Forbes, MSWS Athlete Manager, “Claudia and Tom exemplify the spirit of skyrunning — courage, connection to the mountains, and the drive to push beyond limits. We’re excited to see what their futures hold and we look forward to more young athletes coming into the series next year. As the next generation of elite skyrunners, Corral and Spencer’s achievements highlight the growing depth of talent within the global skyrunning community. Their success not only celebrates individual excellence but we hope this also inspires young athletes worldwide to take to the peaks and join the series next year.”
The U23 category will return next year. More updates on the 2026 season coming soon.
Full results of today’s race can be found HERE.
