Drew Holmen, Zach Miller, Eric Lipuma Race Into Top 10 For U.S. In World Mountain and Trail Championships

By Keenan Gray of DyeStat

Photo from @petermaksimow

INNSBRUCK-STUBAI, AUSTRIA - The United States men found themselves on the podium stand for the first time of the 2023 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships, earning silver in the trail long event following day three competition in Innsbruck-Stubal, Austria. 

Led by three top-10 individual finishes, the US men ran a team total time of 30 hours, 48 minutes and 17 seconds for the 86.9-kilometer course, featuring an elevation gain of  21,325 feet (6,500-meters), with Drew Holmen and Zach Miller earning fifth and sixth, respectively, in a margin of 10:15:40 to 10:15:45 and Eric Lipuma in seventh in 10:16:52.

Caleb Olson added a 90th-place finish in a time of 12:58:32 to round out the quartet of runners for the Americans.

Benjamin Roubiol won gold individually with a time of 9:52:59 to lead France to gold in the team standings with a total time of 30:43:09. Italy secured bronze with a time of 31:29:55, with individual Andreas Reiterer earning silver, running 10:00:46.

Slovakia’s Peter Frano took home bronze in a time of 10:02:10. 

The US women fell short of the podium stand with their fourth-place effort in a time of 36:45:57. Allison Baca finished as the top American in 11:56:21 for sixth, with teammate Emily Schmitz following her in seventh in 11:58:31. Sarah Keyes rounded out the top-three for the US, running 12:51:05 to finish 24th. 

Shea Aquilano (13:09:58, 33rd) and Clara Gallagher (14:46:26, 65th) were among other US competitors in the field. 

France captured gold for the women’s title, running a team total 34:58:23, with Marion Delespierre earning gold in a winning time of 11:22:31. Manon Bohard Caillier added a bronze for the French, running 11:34:22. 

Katharina Hartmuch finished with silver in a time of 11:29:14 to guide Germany to silver in a time of 35:32:01.

Italy ran 36:20:08 to earn bronze. Martina Valmassoi was the top Italian, placing fourth in a time of 11:44:50. 

In the Overall Federation Team Award standings, the Italians remain in first with 3,184 points, while the US moves up to second with 3,139 points and Germany drops to third with 2,957 points. 

** The Overall Federation Team Award is the combination of points between the men’s and women’s races.