WMTRC: The favorite national teams

• RESULTS OF The CLASSIC UPHILL -
• TIPS FOR THE TEAM MEDALS IN THE SHORT TRAIL & LONG TRAIL RACES –
  
• LIVE TRACKING LINK-

Friday, November 4, 2022

The Amazing Thailand World Mountain and Trail Running Championships launched this morning at 10:15 am local time with a bang as loud as the fireworks at last night’s opening ceremony. The national teams battled it out on a rugged course from Chang Mai to the idyllic rustic hill village, Ban Khun Chang Khian. This uphill “sprint” was 8.5km long and involved a lung-bursting altitude gain of 1344m. Congratulations to all the amazing runners who made it look so easy and particularly the medalists in the individual and team categories:

Individual men podium:
1. Patrick KIPNGENO - Keyna– 46 :51
2.  Philemon KIRIAGO - Keyna– 48:24
3. Alejandro GARCIA CARRILLO - Spain – 49 :03

Men's team podium:
1. Italy
2. Switzerland
3. Spain

Individual women podium:
1. Allie MCLAUGHLIN – United States – 55 :15
2.  Andrea MAYR – Austria – 55 :41
3. Maude MATHYS – Switzerland – 56 :00

Women's team podium:
1. United States
2. Great Britain
3. Switzerland

The highest-ranked teams: LONG TRAIL RACE MEN

This chart shows the average ITRA Performance Index (ITRA PI) of the 3 top-ranked runners in each team.

*To be confirmed

As you can see, the scores are very close. France is ranked first with an average ITRA PI of 899. Then, Italy with 887, Great Britain with 886 and Spain with 883 – you can’t fit a cigarette paper between these three great trail running nations. Switzerland, Norway and the USA with an average ITRA PI respectively of 879, 870 and 860 will certainly be in the running too. Nothing is decided, everything is to play for! This race promises to be a real test of endurance, grit and determination as well as raw talent. We should consider too the runners whose local knowledge might provide an advantage. Those with substantial experience racing in Asia include Japan’s Hirokazu NISHIMURA (834 ITRA PI) and Hong-Kong’s WONG Ho Chung (825 ITRA PI). We’ll keep a close eye too on local boy "Jay" KIANGCHAIPAIPHANA (773 ITRA PI) who’s running his home trails and Team GB’s Harry JONES (873 ITRA PI) who lived, trained and raced in Chiang Mai for years. Still, it would take real courage to bet against France for the team win in this one.

The highest-ranked teams: LONG TRAIL RACE WOMEN:

Again, the chart shows the average ITRA PI of the 3 top-ranked runners in each team.

The average women's ranking is also incredibly high. As for the men, France is leading the ranking with an average ITRA PI of 780. Spain is just behind with 765. Then, Team USA and Team Poland are almost side by side with respectively 755 and 753. In 5th and 6th position we have the Italians with 729 and the Norwegians on 725. All of these teams have everything to win and the capacity to do it.

This race for women will be hugely competitive and each of the runners mentioned above are in the frame. Look out too for Nepal’s Sunmaya BUDHA (772 ITRA PI), as the top-ranked Asian trail runner who might need less acclimatization than her competitors. The women promise us a great show and we shouldn’t be surprised if there are surprises, given the incredible depth and talent of the field.

The highest-ranked teams: SHORT TRAIL RACE MEN:

*To be confirmed

The ITRA PI of the men in the SHORT TRAIL race of the World Championships is so high that we expect 8 teams to fight a battle royal for the podium. Ranked first are the French with an average ITRA PI of 909. High enough to intimidate the other teams slightly, perhaps? But not so far behind France we find Spain with an average ITRA PI of 888. Team USA are 3^rd, followed very closely by the Swiss with respectively 874 and 870. Team Great Britain is led by Jonathan ALBON, the 2nd best trail runner in the world by ITRA general ranking with an ITRA PI of 941. Jonathan must be the favorite for gold, even if he tells us he prefers to be the underdog. The Portuguese and Romanian teams are respectively ranked 7th and 8th with ITRA PI averages of 848 and 841. With such stratospheric performance levels it is impossible to be sure who will win the team medals. Take your pick, but, again, to bet against France for the team win would be brave.

The highest-ranked teams: SHORT TRAIL RACE WOMEN

*To be confirmed

The women’s SHORT TRAIL race looks likely to be a shoot-out for the medals between USA, France and Spain. Team USA just lead the rankings with an average ITRA PI of 769. France and Spain are locked together each with an average ITRA PI of 763. But Team USA’s Allie MCLAUGHLIN (791 ITRA PI) may be feeling the effects of her magnificent win in the Uphill race today. Or maybe it will just put even more spring in her step. Ranked fourth and fifth are Team Italy and Team GB with ITRA PI averages of 725 and 720. Sweden, without the presence of Tove ALEXANDERSSON (821 ITRA PI) who will sadly not start due to injury, are ranked 6th with an average of 701. The level of this field is incredibly high and the battle between France, Spain and the USA is one of the most eagerly anticipated aspects of an Amazing Thailand World Mountain and Trail Running Championships that is full of great match-ups and fascinating contests. We can’t wait to see how it unfolds. Details on how to follow the races are below, so that you don’t miss any of the action. Enjoy!

FOLLOW THE RACE IN LIVE:

Here is the link to follow all the races for tomorrow:
https://my.raceresult.com/225074/participants#2_94CFFD