Over the weekend we saw the new star of women’s trail running come into her own and break the Skyrunner World Series race record at Canazei in the Italian Dolomites 

The dazzling all-Salomon women’s podium had newcomer Emelie Forsberg from Sweden cruise in after 2h26’00”, slicing a hefty four minutes off the women’s record. American Kasie Enmanwas second in 2h28’09”and Spain’s Mireia Mirò, last year’s race winner, was third in 2h30’08” – all beating the previous record.

After yesterday’s downpour and fears for another summit cancellation, the day dawned clear and sunny, the cool conditions making for today’s fast times.    Jornet even took his time on the downhill near the summit, where he carefully picked his way around the ice before accelerating to a fast finish.

Forsberg, an explosive downhill specialist, loved the experience – and the scenery, commenting that in her native Sweden steep ascents are, of course, non-existent.  It just comes naturally!  Forsberg, after Friday’s Vertical Kilometer^® and today’s spectacular win, now heads the Skyrunner^® World Series ranking.

The Skyrunner^® World Series ranking now has Emelie Forsberg on the top rung, followed by Spain’s Blanca Maria Serrano and Britain’s Lauren Jeska.  The men’s top three are all Spanish:  Kilian Jornet, Luis Alberto Hernando and Jokin Lizeaga.

The climb to the summit of the 3,152m Biz Boè, with a daunting 1750 vertical metres from Canazei, represented one of the toughest proving grounds for this distance, with several young talents emerging, like France’s twenty-year oldMetheo Jacquemoud, an excellent fourth today.

The Series moves on to the US with the Speedgoat 50 on July 28 where Jornet begins his assault on American soil, following on with an attempt at the long-standing Pikes Peak Marathon record in August.    Next week also features the popular Giir di Mont in Lecco, Italy on July 29 with a rich international line-up, many of the runners following on from here.

Andrew Vize caught up with Emelie at Kilian’s Classik last year where she again took first place and he quizzed her on her sudden emergence onto the trail running scene, her skiing background and a spell in Orienteering all helping to contribute to her induction into the mountain running scene. I also remember overhearing Salomon Team Leader and quality trail runner Greg Vollet that of all the downhillers he has seen over the years Emelie is right up there with the Kilian’s of this world.

Emelie has gone on from strength to strength over teh last 12 months, winning all before her.

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Marcus