Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
The WMRA Mountain Running World Cup continues in the United States with rounds six and seven at the Broken Arrow Skyrace in Palisades Tahoe, California. The competition begins with the Ascent on Friday, followed by the 23km Skyrace on Sunday, both offering important points and challenging terrain for athletes competing for World Cup standings.
The Ascent features a 4.8-kilometer uphill course starting from the valley floor and climbing 914 meters to the summit of Washeshu Peak at 2708 meters. The route includes steep rock slabs, snowfields, scree, the Headwall Ridge, and the 'stairway to heaven' bolted ladder to the peak. The 23km Skyrace involves about 1400 meters of elevation gain, traversing alpine ridges, snowfields, and technical descents, mostly above the tree line with scenic views of Granite Chief Wilderness.
Kenya’s current World Cup leaders Michael Saoli and Joyce Muthoni Njeru will face strong opposition, including last year’s Skyrace winner Elhousine Elazzaoui, recent Zegama winner Christian Allen, and Anna Gibson, the defending Ascent champion. Several athletes who stood on last year’s podium are expected to return, except for Joe Gray. The women’s field includes Muthoni Njeru, Madalina Florea, Jade Belzberg, and Valentine Jepkoech Rutto, last year’s World Cup runner-up. The men’s race features Philemon Kiriago, Patrick Kipngeno, and Cameron Smith among others.
Paul Machoka makes his debut at Broken Arrow, contesting both races. Italy's Luca Merli and U.S. athletes Tyler McCandless, Caleb Olson, and Liam Meirow are also expected to compete for podium places. The participation of French runners Nelie Clement and Marie Nivet brings added depth to the women’s competition.