The 2015 Skyrunner® World Series kicked off today with the epic Transvulcania Ultramarathon. In a star-studded men’s field, 2014 winner and world champion Luis Alberto Hernando steadily paced himself over the challenging 73km course to a new 6h52’39” record. He commented, “I’m really happy today and to finally take the record. A great race and a great day!”  The previous record stood since 2013, set by Kilian Jornet, 6h54’09”.

The hugely competitive men’s field however, had some surprises in store, with newbie Dani Garcia Gomez from Andalucía, an outstanding second in 7h21’28”. Australia’s young talent, Blake Hose, winner of the recent Oceania Championships and 6^th at the Skyrunning Ultra World Championships, powered to a close third in 7h25’23”.  Dakota Jones, winner here in 2012 and 10^th last year, bettered his performance to finish 4^th in 7h28’59” in a sprint with fellow American, Zach Miller, 5^th, with just one second separating them.

The top ten men’s category continues with excellent performances by Dimitrios Theodorakakis from Greece; Spaniards Cristofer Clemente and Pablo Villa; and Frenchmen Julien Coudert and Aurelieèn Dunand Pallaz.

Emelie Forsberg, Skyrunning Ultra Champion and winner here in 2013, was a last minute entry, straight off a successful ski mountaineering season and winner the famous Mezzalama Trophy just one week ago. In 2014 she was forced to retire due to injury.

Despite her lack of running training and suffering the heat after the snow, she pushed strongly from the beginning and, even on the last ascent before the race summit at 2,423m, she looked as fresh as the trademark flower in her hair. She finished in a shower of confetti and champagne with a time of 8h32’59”.

Anna Frost had come to the island to repeat her 2012 & 2014 victories. As the race date closed in, it was clear she would be unable to race due to recurring pain issues. Her race record still stands at 8h10’41”.

Spaniard Anna Comet was second in 9h02’57” followed by Myriam Marie Guillot Boisset from France, third, in 9h15’06”. American Alicia Shay was close behind in 4^th with a time of 9h17’49” and Poland’s Magdalena Laczak finished in 9h23’45”. 

the Skyrunner® Ultra Series in 2012 has grown to represent a hub for many of the world’s top ultra runners, and has never looked back.

With nearly 1,500 runners on the pre-dawn ocean-front start-line, Transvulcania has come to represent everything that is skyrunning.  The runners face a daunting 8,525m ascent and descent over the 73 km course.  It starts at sea level on the Atlantic coast and travels along the island’s backbone to the summit of the volcano at 2,423m before descending back to the sea and finishing in the town of Los Llanos where several thousand ecstatic supporters greet the runners.

2015 Skyrunner® Ultra ranking (excerpt)

1. Blake Hose (Salomon)
2. Cristofer Clemente (Race Land)
3. Luis Albert Hernando (Adidas Trail)

Women

1. Emelie Forsberg (Salomon)
2. Anna Comet
3. Myriam Marie Guillot Boisset (Raw Adventure)

Skyrunner® Ultra ranking (updating)

Transvulcania Ultramarathon race results: Men

1. Luis Alberto Hernando (ESP) Adidas Trail – 6h52’39”
2. Dani Garcia Comez (ESP) – 7h21’28”
3. Blake Hose (AUS) Salomon – 7h25’23”
4. Dakota Jones (USA) Salomon – 7h28’59”
5. Zach Miller (USA) Nike Trail Elite – 7h29’00”
   

Women:

1. Emelie Forsberg (SWE) Salomon – 8h32’59”
2. Anna Comet Pasqua (ESP) – 9h02’57”
3. Myriam Marie Guillot Boisset – 9h15’06”
4. Alicia Shay (USA) Nike Trail Elite – 9h17’49”
5. Magdalena Laczak (POL) Salomon – 9h23’45”

Race results

Race website: www.transvulcania.com

The 2015 SWS kicks off with new sponsor Alpina Watches and continues with the support of main sponsor Active Patch 4U and Salomon, SCOTT Sports, Compressport, Arc’teryx and La Sportiva.

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PICS CREDITS: IANCORLESS.COM

INFO: Transvulcania Ultramarathon