Skyrunners Wanted for 2019 Youth World Championships

Race in now. 18 spots are available and the US Skyrunning Team is seeking applicants!

Written by US Skyrunning Team Leader Ryan Kerrigan.

After an exciting trip and spectacular results at last years competition the US Team begins to rally for The 2019 Youth Skyrunning World Championships (YWC) held August 2-4, 2019 in Fonte Cerreto, L’Aquila, Italy.

54 medals are up for grabs distributed in three age group categories plus a combined title. Individual medals are awarded to the winners of each event and the Combined title is based on the sum of VK and Sky times. Countries will receive medals based on the total number of medals won by the team (limited to 18 members).

Vertical and Sky disciplines will be disputed with specific distances according to the age categories which are: Youth A (16-17 years), Youth B (18-20 years) and U23 (21-23 years).

Youth A (16-17 years): born from January 1, 2003 to December 31, 2002

Youth B (18-19-20 years): from January 1, 2001 to December 31, 1999

U23 (21-22-23 years): from January 1, 1998 to December 31, 1996

Youth B vertical kilometer (VK) winner Sofia Sánchez (CA).

Some US team highlights from the 2018 Youth Skyrunning World Championships; Sofia Sanchez (CA) stole the show in the women’s Vertical Kilometer, winning the Youth B category handily as the fastest woman of the day!

Meg Lane (WA) slid into a 3rd place and a podium finish in the women’s 25 kilometer race in the U23 category.

Brendan Magill (VT) and Mikey Connolly (AK) also showed a lot of promise for the year to come ringing in 9th and 12th in the boys Youth A category. Both may have another crack at the Youth A Category this year.

There were countless other personal achievements throughout the week. US runners most enjoyed the opportunity to interact and compete with the worlds best juniors in the hotel and on the trails in the great expanse of the Gran Sasso mountain range.

The US Team stacked up 5th place overall with 4 medals. It’s a big mountain to climb to catch the 1st place Spanish Team but US runners are on the ascent!

Youth A category athlete Mikey Connolly (AK) racing the vertical kilometer (VK).

While US junior athletes revel in cross county, usually 5k in distance, many athletes are looking forward to the challenge of running central Europe’s big mountains. They’ll be ramping up the distance and the vertical training to prepare.

Nordic ski racers will swap out the ski quiver and wax box for mountain shoes and shorts.

There are 18 spots available and the US Skyrunning Team is seeking applicants. To inquire please contact Ryan Kerrigan (pictured below, right) [email protected]. We are hoping to bring a strong and dynamic team to this years event.

There are 18 spots available and the US Skyrunning Team is seeking applicants.

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