Sub 45min Vertical KM for winners at Zegamma-Aizkorri

Yesterday evening Naiara Irigoyen warmed up for the Zegama Mountain Marathon on sunday with a 2^nd consecutive win in the Vertical Kilometre. Omi Ryunosuke of Japan was 1^st male and overall winner.

In stark contrast to the extreme conditions of 2023 that saw the course shortened to ensure runner safety, the runners left Zegama yesterday under clear skies and sunshine, the heat adding to the challenge of an already brutally tough race. This was the 10th edition of the Vertical Kilometre and over that decade it’s garnered a reputation as one of the toughest VKs around.

For those less familiar with the format, the race is exactly as it sounds, a short 3km course but with 1000m of ascent on a course which gets steeper as the entrants climb.

A total of 254 participants reached the top yesterday, spurred on by the spectators who lined the muddy, steep and technical course from bottom to top, willing the runners on with rapturous cheers and shouted words of encouragement. 

In the men’s category, the young athlete from Kyoto, Omi Ryunosuke, won ahead of Ïu Net (37:00) and Jordi Bolet (37:34). Ryunosuke is making a habit of strong performances on such courses having also won the Vertical Kilometre at Transvulcania. In the women’s category, Naiara Irigoyen, who is also taking part in Sunday’s main event, reached the summit ahead of her rivals for the 2^nd year running, ahead of Laia Montoya (44:42) and Ainhoa Sanz (46:00).

Back in Zegama after the race Ryunosuke was happy with his win stating “I found the course very beautiful and spectacular. This is my third time here. The first year I came to cheer and learn about the race, last year I ran the marathon, and this year I am more focused on short distances.”

Naiara Irigoyen praised the supporters for giving her strength, adding “Now my goal is to prepare for Sunday. I will try to recover well tomorrow, rest, and get a lot of sleep. I am eager to repeat the marathon with a better time than last year. Vertical races are my specialty, and even though I have the marathon on Sunday, I couldn’t miss this race.”

What does a Vertical Kilometere course look like?

Our roving reporter, Will Roberts, hiked out to the course yesterday to see what the atmosphere and course were like first hand, and you can take a look behind the scenes of this intensely tough race below.

Vertical Kilometer at Zegama-Aizkorri results

Men’s

• Omi Ryunosuke 36:43
• Ïu Net                           37:00
• Jordi Bolet                   37:34

Women’s

• Naiara Irigoyen           44:03
• Laia Montoya              44:42
• Ainhoa Sanz                46:00

Catalan athletes Oriol Cardona (32:59 in 2022) and Laura Orgué (41:40 in 2017) still hold the course records.

More Zegama-Aizkorri LIVE Coverage

Irigoyen and the other entrants in the Mountain Marathon, will set off at 0900 local time / 0800 BST / 0300 EST on Sunday . Live coverage is available in available in four languages:

• English via our race preview article
• Spanish on the official Zegama YouTube channel
• Basque on ETB1
• Catalan on Esports 3 of Televisió de Catalunya.

You can also expect regular updates via the Golden Trail World Series Instagram.