As Matt would say… Welcome back, Skyrunners! The MSWS could not have kicked off in a more spectacular setting: the Argentine Patagonia, 4 Refugios, with a race that has become living skyrunning history after two decades. A wild environment, a highly technical course, and the experienced organisation of Club Andino Bariloche —the team behind the legendary 4 Refugios— guaranteed a season opener worthy of the circuit.

The race, one of the most technical in the Americas, requires a helmet for the entire course. That alone says everything

In the race preview blog post you’ll find all the detailed information about the event.

Two scoring races

• 1 Refugio U23 Skyrace – 21 km / +1.000 m (Esteban Olivero Throphy)
• 4 Refugios NonStop – Skyrunning – 40 km / +3.350 m

Although some of the top contenders for the overall title were absent —or maybe not… there are still 19 races ahead— the international elite turnout was excellent.

Men’s favourites

José Manuel Quispe (PER–Civa Merrell), Joel Pumacayo (PER), Morgan Elliott (USA–Merrell), Weston Hill (NZL–Merrell), and Argentinians Marco Vidoz, Javier Mariqueo, and Francisco Paredes.

Women’s favourites

Kallie McCrystal (CAN), Rosalía Zegarra (PER), Júlia Garriga (ESP–Merrell), Lina El Kott Elander (SWE–Merrell), Charlotte Rawstron (GBR–Nike Trail), Tanja Löwenhagen (AUT), Ekaterina Luzina (RUS–Altra Coros), Erin Ton (USA–Teva), and locals Mía Victoria Borrajo and Ayelén Liberal.

Merrell, the event’s main sponsor, had a very strong presence.

A spectacular race start

A night start, helmets, headlamps, and 40 km ahead towards Colonia Suiza, climbing up to the 2,093 m summit of Cerro Navidad. A technical, demanding, and brutally beautiful course.

• Refugio Frey (km 9): Quispe leads, followed by Muñoz, Elliott, and Hill.
• Refugio Jakob (km 18): Quispe and Elliott open a gap; Genaro Crisóstomo passes third, two minutes behind.

From that point on, José Manuel Quispe sets the pace, pulling away and securing victory with a new course record: 5h 39min.

Men’s Top 5

1. José Manuel Quispe (PER) – new record
2. Genaro Crisóstomo (PER) – despite a 6-minute penalty
3. Morgan Elliott (USA)
4. Weston Hill (NZL)
5. Fran Muñoz (PER)

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Women’s Top 5

1. Kallie McCrystal (CAN) – new record
2. Tanja Löwenhagen (AUT) – 31 minutes behind
3. Rosalía Zegarra (PER)
4. Ayelén Liberal (ARG–HOKA)
5. Lina El Kott Helander (SWE–Merrell)

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Full results: https://cronometrajeinstantaneo.com/resultados/4-refugios-cab-2026/generales

As 4 Refugios is a red race (x1.5), Quispe and McCrystal earn 150 points and become the first leaders of the season.

U23 Category – Esteban Olivero Trophy (1 Refugio, 21 km / +1.000 m)

Boys:

1. Ignacio Poza (ARG)
2. Matteo Lescano (ARG)
3. Felipe Cárdenas (ARG)

Girls:

1. Mía Victoria Borrajo (ARG)
2. Zoe Lucis Roussos (ARG)

Next stop: Chile — Merrell Andes Mountain Skyrace®

The southern hemisphere summer continues, and the circuit heads to the Chilean Andes to once again summit the Cerro del Plomo (5,432 m)

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Race details

• Maximum altitude: 5,424 m
• Wind chill at the summit: –20 ºC
• Start: –3 ºC at 2,980 m
• 34 km and ±3,250 m
• Mandatory gear: down jacket, long tights, crampons, mountain gloves, long sleeves…
• Aid stations in high-mountain tents
• Freezing winds and extreme exposure

A white race (x1) that also includes the U23 category with the El Pintor (18 km / ±1,550 m) course.

International favourites

Men: Quispe, Pumacayo, Gustavo Buitrago, Elliott, Hill, Ignacio Poza (U23), Fran Muñoz, and local runner Luis Ovalle.
Women: Lina El Kott, Júlia Garriga, Paola Morales, Rosalía Zegarra, and Ana Maria Pineda.