With the circuit’s halfway point behind us, the Merrell Skyrunner® World Series return to Europe. The destination: Poland, with the debut of the Tatra Skymarathon, a new addition to this year’s our international calendar.
The Tatra Skymarathon, race 14 of the 24-event circuit, takes place in the heart of the Tatra National Park, in southern Poland near the Slovakian border, with Zakopane as the host city, located in the Malopolska region.
The course blends fast runnable trails with sections of pure skyrunning. A steep climb to Starorobocianski Peak (+1250 m, gradients over 40%) and a final descent of -700 m in just 2.5 km test both endurance and technique.
With 45 km and +/- 3300 m, the race was set to be long and demanding, but once again, the weather played a decisive role. Only eight runners completed the full course; the rest were rerouted due to a powerful thunderstorm with lightning.
Event distances:
- Tatra Skymarathon – 45 km +/- 3300 m (MSWS Scoring race)
- Orava Trail – 36 km +/- 1500 m
- Tatra Trail – 15 km +/- 650 m (U23 Esteban Olivero)
- Mini Tatra Trail – 5 km +/- 120 m
- Tatra Skyline – 54 km +/- 5200 m
Anyone who moves through high mountains knows that even with favorable forecasts, conditions can shift in minutes. That’s exactly what happened. Safety for athletes, volunteers, and spectators always comes first.
Unlike the full cancellation of the Minotaure Skyrace® , Canadá, Tatra Skymarathon will count towards the rankings.
Final results are based on official times at the last completed checkpoint before the race was halted.
Nilsson and Amariei shine in a race shaped by the skies
In a shortened race due to weather, Sweden’s Martin Nilsson claimed his second win of the season. Romania’s Madalina Amariei took her first victory after a fierce battle with Denisa Dragomir, in a finish marked by neutralization and some controversy.
Men’s Race
Nilsson (SWE/VJ Sports Team), as in the Monte Zerbión Skyrace®, led from start to finish. Though he ran much of the race alongside Damien Humbert (FRA/New Balance) and Krzysztof Bodurka (POL/Salomon), 2023’s winner, he broke away on the final descent.
Luca del Pero (ITA/Scarpa) surged on the last climb to take second place, finishing 5 minutes behind Nilsson. Damien Humbert completed the podium. The top 5 was rounded out by Bodurka and Andrzej Witek (POL/Asics).
Only the top eight avoided the storm. From 9th place onward, rankings were based on split times at km 23.9.
Women’s race
Drama until the very end. The first uphill saw a hard battle between three runners who competed in last year’s Skymasters: Denisa Dragomir (ROM/Merrell Red Bull), Elena Karanfiloska (MKD), and Madalina Amariei (ROM/Pegarun).
Before km 23.9, the Romanian duo pulled ahead of Elena by two minutes. Madalina passed just one second ahead of Denisa, which ultimately decided the final standings.
Though they crossed the finish line hand in hand via an alternate route, the neutralization fixed the results. Karanfiloska held onto third, followed by Miroslawa Witowska (POL/Hoka-Garmin) and Aina Cusí (ESP/Merrell).
Madalina Amariei, though not widely known, proved she can challenge the best. She already did so at the Marató dels Dements, finishing 7th overall among women, ahead of several elite runners, despite competing in the Open category. From the Dements organization, we recognize the effort she and her coach made to be in Eslida last year. Congratulations, Madalina!
U23 Esteban Olivero Trophy
The youth race, 15 km with +/- 650 m, was completed in full. British athletes dominated.
Finlay Grant (GBR/Scarpa) won in 1:02h, followed by Tom Spencer (GBR/Inov8) 35 seconds behind, and Marcos Villamuera (ESP/Scarpa) 50 seconds back.
In the women’s race, Karina Andersen (USA) took the win, 3 minutes ahead of Louise Mitchell (GBR) and 4 ahead of Ayla Blonde (BEL).
- Photo: MSW
Photo: MSW
Photo: MSWFinal stretch: countdown to the Skymasters
Next stop: Matterhorn Ultraks Extreme, in Zermatt, Switzerland, on August 22. With race 15, we enter the decisive phase of the circuit. Those not yet qualified must plan carefully to secure a spot at the Skymasters or aim for the overall title.
The start list promises fireworks.
Women’s field includes: Anastacia Rubstova, Naiara Irigoyen, Iris Pessey, Lucille Germain, Kalie McCrystal, Therese Arvik, Bel Calero, Aina Cusí, Ohiana Zubillaga…
And the men’s field is just as stacked: Arnau Soldevilla, Martin Anthanatten, Manu Merillas, Alain Santamaria, Fredo Tranchand, Daniel Antoniolli, Jan Torrella, Gianluca Ghiano, Louis Doumas, Jules Delabelle, Marc Bernardes Ollé, Lucien Mermillon…
If they all show up, it’ll be a true spectacle—and the overall standings will start to take shape.
This week we won’t be giving you the overall standings or who has already qualified for the Skymasters… but you can read a summary of what we’ve seen so far on the circuit in the following post, which summarises the first part of the MSWS, before the three-week summer break.
