The Merrell Skyrunner® World Series continues to deliver relentless action, moving from the passionate trails of the Basque Country to the rugged, green peaks of Northern Ireland for this weekend’s Mourne Skyline!
The Seniors race is a tough 35-kilometer loop featuring 2,700 meters of vertical gain. Runners start at Donard Park and tackle the high peaks of the Mourne Mountains, including Slieve Bearnagh, Slieve Meelmore, and the highest point in Northern Ireland, Slieve Donard, before making the technical descent back to the finish in the coastal village of Newcastle.
All-Star Lineup!
The quick turnaround means athletes must manage recovery perfectly. The fields are stacked with talent looking to secure crucial – and for some, their last – points towards the overall ranking before the final:
- Men to Watch: The race will feature top Spanish runners Dimas Pereira (team Asics) and Alain Santamaría (Open Team), alongside the seasoned Manuel Marillas (team New Balance) and Gonztal Murgoitio (team Basque Selection / Brooks). They face international competition from Jacob Adkin of the UK, France’s Damien Humbert (both team New Balance), Jackson Cole of New Zealand (team La Sportiva), and Brennan Townshendof the UK.
- Women to Watch: The women’s race is equally competitive, featuring Spain’s Marta Martínez (team La Sportiva) and Naiara Irigoyen (Open Team) battling the strong international contingent of Natalie Beadle of the UK, Lina El Kott of Sweden (team Merrell), Iris Pessey of France (team Scott Running), and Liv Richter Melby of Norway (team Salomon).
U23 Mourne SkyTrail
The 20-kilometer Mourne SkyTrail, which kicks off one hour later, is the 12th stage of the MSWS U23 Trofeo Esteban Olivero with the world’s best youth athletes taking to the start line.
The field includes the UK’s Finlay Grant (team Scarpa), Tom Spencer (team Inov8), and Louise Mitchell, who will be up against the likes of Spain’s Ibai Larrea (team Basque Selection) and Jan Balbe (team FEEC), as well as Carrodilla Cabestre (Open Team) and Claudia Corral.
The Mourne Skyline seniors race kicks off this Saturday at 9:00 a.m. local time, with the U23 20K challenge starting at 10:00 a.m. Tune in to see who can conquer the Green Isle!
More info. HERE.
