Vertical race summary – Janelle Smiley 13th again – 2013 World Ski Mountaineering Champs

Today’s vertical race at the 2013 Skimo World Champs confirmed the dominance of some top athletes but also revealed some new names to watch for in the future.
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Women Top 3 Overall

The women’s vertical race brought a surprise in making. Not well known in the skimo world an accomplished long distance trail runner, Emelie Forsberg (SWE), raced to third place once again!
Emelie’s best placings (two bronze medals) came from the two shortest skimo disciplines – sprint and vertical. She also did well in yesterday’s individual race where she came sixth, but only 2min behind third place. Give her couple of weeks of downhill practice and she might become a top 3 regular.
The rest went according to the script – Laetitia Roux (FRA) crushed the field again (after winning teams and individual) with Spain’s Mireia Miro taking second, 22sec behind. Both are great friends and race lots of team competitions together.

1. Laetitia Roux (FRA) – 30:28
2. Mireia Miro (ESP) – 30:50
3. Emelie Forsberg (SWE) – 31:20

Men Top 3 Overall

No surprise here as Kilian Jornet (ESP) confirmed his climbing superiority again, however, he had to keep his chasers in check all the time.
At the end, Kilian safely arrived 12sec ahead of a very explosive Martin Anthamatten (SWI) who regularly performs very well in sprints and verticals.
Third place went to a vertical specialist Damiano Lenzi (ITA) but only after a great battle with Matheo Jacquemound (FRA). Matheo was leading him but surrendered to the Italian’s final sprint.

1. Kilian Jornet (ESP) – 25:33
2. Martin Anthamatten (SWI) – 25:45
3. Damiano Lenzi (ITA) – 26:01

Video in French

Video in Italian

North American athletes

Women:
Janelle Smiley (USA) put in a very solid performance to finish in 34:19 at 13^th place, repeating her 13th from the individual. Second best North American was Stevie Kremer (USA) finishing at 15^th, about 20sec behind Janelle. Canada’s Melanie Bernier was next at 18th, about further minute behind.
Rest of the NA girls finished like this:
20) Kim Young (USA) – 36:06
22) McKenna Douglas (USA) – 36:22
28) Nina Silitch (USA) – 39:03
35) Martha Burley (CAN) – 41:41
38) Carla McKirdy (CAN) – 43:37
Men:
Some of the US and Canadian boys were perhaps hoping for a better showing today but the competition is as high as ever.
Top NA racer and somewhat of a vertical specialist was Greg Ruckman (USA) at 26^th with a time of 28:51. Greg was closely followed home by Scott Simmons (USA) at 29^th, in 28:57. Third fastest was Reiner Thoni (CAN) who had a great individual race yesterday. Reiner finished the vertical at 42^nd, in 30:01.
The rest of the NA pack:
43) Andrew McNab (CAN) – 30:06
46) Luke Nelson (USA) – 30:39
48) Brad Schalles (CAN) – 30:51
50) Andy Dorais (USA) – 31:06
71) Steve Sellers (CAN) – 34:36
73) Mateusz Burgunder (USA) – 36:36 [competing in Espoir category, under 23] Full results: http://ismf-ski.org/www/index.php?q=node/45&page=ListRaceRankingsAction&type=view&id_parent=224&id_parent2=&id_parent_parent=88sdf
Photos from the USA team: http://www.ussma.org/blog/brackec/world-skimo-championships-vertical-race