Morgan and Aymonod lead way in 2021 WMRA World Cup

Great Britain’s Charlotte Morgan is leading the way for the women after the first four races of the World Mountain Running Association’s (WMRA) World Cup. Morgan, who finished ninth in the 2019 World Cup, has amassed 235 points with two podiums and a top-ten finish from three races, including a win in the Tatra Race Run on the opening day.

Italy’s Henri Aymonod is the front runner in the men’s competition with 220 points. He’s also recorded two podiums and a top ten finish from three races.

Kenya’s Lucy Murigi, who won so memorably at La Montee du Nid d’Aigle, is currently second in the overall women’s ranking with Italy’s Alice Gaggi in third.

For the men, Hungary’s  Sandor Szabolies has second place and Poland’s Kamil Lesniak is third.

Long mountain race opener

The World Cup opened in Poland with the Tatra Race Run, a long mountain race, at 24km with 1700m of ascent. It attracted a great field of international runners

Women’s results

1. Charlotte Morgan (GBR)
2.  Alice Gaggi (ITA)
3. Iwona Januszyk (CZE)

Men’s results

1. Marcin Kubica (POL)
2. Piotr Lobodzinski (POL)
3. Henri Aymonod (ITA)

Grossglockner, the first classic mountain race, was dominated by Kenyan athletes who took all three podium places in the women’s race and the top spot in the men’s race.

Women’s result

1. Joyce Muthoni Njeru (KEN)
2. Purity Kajuja Gitonga (KEN)
3. Lucy Murigi (KEN)

Men’s result

1. Lengen Lolkurraru (KEN)
2. Filimon Abraham (GER)
3. Manuel Innerhofer (AUT)

La Montee du Nid d’Aigle, another classic mountain race, saw more success for Kenya in the Women’s race, with Lucy Wambui taking top spot and an all-Italian affair in the men’s race.

Women’s result

1. Lucy Wambui (KEN)
2. Christel Dewalle (FRA)
3.  Anais Sabrie (FRA)

Men’s result

1. Xavrier Chevrier
2. Francesco Puppi (ITA)
3. Henri Aymonod (ITA)

The fourth race took the World Cup back to the Tatra Mountains for Tatra SkyMarathon – another long mountain race.

Women’s result

1.  Marcela Vasinova (CZE)
2. Katarzyna Solinska (POL)
3. Charlotte Morgan (GBR)

Men’s race

1.  Peter Frano (SVK
2.  Andrej Witek (POL)
3. Raul Criado (ESP).

You can find the current ranking (overall and by race) here