Six months after the first race in Costa Rica, the Skyrunner® World Series celebrated their king in the charming context of the UNESCO World Heritage site Mount Kinabalu and its tropical rainforest.

Kilian Jornet was crowned World Champion at the final held in Malaysia on Sunday, October 25th, his second world title. The young Spaniard lived up to expectations by ascending the 4,095m mount leading the pack of top international skyrunners, then breaking away on the descent to finish in 2h40’41”, a good five minutes ahead of the second runner, Japan’s Toru Miyahara and around 15 before Mius Bin Balinting from Malaysia.

The women’s race held the previous day had favourite Emanuela Brizio from Italy leading the course from start to finish and closing, overjoyed, 13 minutes ahead of her rival in 3h20’15”. Spain’s new star, Mireia Mirò, suffered the steep ascent but managed to gain on the downhill to close in 3h33’15”, just 46 seconds before Andorran Stephanie Jimenez who, after a season of intensive racing, took third, dashing her hopes for the Series’ second place.

The women’s race line-up reflects the final world ranking positions, with Brizio, Mirò and Jimenez placing first, second and third respectively, while the men’s ranking which had shown enormous scope with eight possible contenders, was confirmed by Jornet’s outright win, rocketing him from sixth position to World Series Champion. Spain’s Toful Castanyer in eighth, soared to second position and Britain’s Ricky Lightfoot, ranked seventh, took third in the final World Series ranking.

RESULTS

Men
1. Kilian Jornet (Spain) 2h40’41”
2. Toru Miyahara (Japan) 2h45’57’’
3. Mius Bin Balinting (Malaysia) 2h53’20’’

Women
1. Emanuela Brizio (Italy) 3h20'15''
2. Mireia Mirò (Spain) 3h33'17''
3. Stephanie Jimez (Andorra) 3h34'01''

GENERAL RANKING

Men
1. Kilian Jornet (Spain)
2. Toful Castanyer (Spain)
3. Ricky Lightfoot (UK)

Women
1. Emanuela Brizio (Italy)
2. Mirei Mirò (Spain)
3. Stephanie Jimez (Andorra)