Eight Scots all set for World Mountain and Trail Champs

Tuesday 6th June 2023

Eight Scots are headed to Austria for the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Innsbruck-Stubai this week,

The Stubai Alps offer a stunning venue, with steep hill sides with snow clad peaks. A large percentage of the courses are on single track alpine trails which are narrow in long sections.

First off is the Uphill only race from Neustift on Wednesday (7 June), when Jacob and Scout Adkin and Andy Douglas race.

The middle section of the course covers 500m of climb in 1.7km before ‘flattening’ out for the final climb to the finish. The course is 7km and 1050m climb.

Athletes will have to pace the course well to leave the legs fresh enough for the faster ‘flatter’ running nearer the finish.

Only one Scot is racing in the Short Trail on Thursday (8 June) which is over 45.5km and 3132m ascent/descent. Sasha Chepelin will be joined by Kris Jones (Dundee Hawkhill Harriers) to race from Innsbruck to Neustift over the limestone Kalkkogel mountain.

Jasmin Paris and Meryl Cooper are racing the Long Trail on Friday (9 June) over 85.6km and 5554 ascent/descent.

This course may change slightly because there is still soft snow lying above 2000m which may be an avalanche risk, the organisers will check snow conditions nearer the race and confirm if athletes have to race on the slightly shorter alternate route.

The final event in the championships is the Classic Mountain Race on Saturday 10 June, where the seniors are racing over a very fast two lapped course climbing the hill behind Innsbruck.

For this one, the course is 15.5km with 750m ascent/descent. Jacob and Scout Adkin and Andy Douglas are doubling up to race the up and down.

They will be joined by Alice Goodall, as the Edinburgh Uni Hare and Hounds athlete earns her first mountain running GB and NI vest, and Holly Page of Carnethy HRC.

In Thailand, Scout and Holly were part of the silver medal wining team and will be hoping to bring back a team medal in this year’s championships.

Everyone at scottishathletics wishes all the athletes good luck in the championships and sends our congratulations on their selection to athletes, families, coaches and clubs.

With thanks to Angela Mudge