Sat 28 Mar 2026
16 Oct 2025 • 11 minutes read
The dust has settled on the Pyrenean trails after the World Mountain and Trail Championships (WMTRC). The team are back home in their beds, and you’re probably wondering how it all went. What were the highlights? How was the food? Did we make our nation proud?
If you’re new to the WMTRC, we recommend reading Matt Crehan’s preview, The Who, What, Where of the WMTRC, before diving into this wrap-up!
And colour there was. We were in Spain, after all. The event began with a smaller than usual Opening Ceremony outside the grand Canfranc Train Station. Usually a highlight for all athletes, this year the authorities allowed only a small group from each country to attend.
With the ceremony complete, Day 1 was underway. The action began with the 6 km uphill race to the top of La Raca, the shortest yet arguably the most painful event of the championships. As runners neared the summit, the gradient steepened again, forcing all but the eventual winners, Remi Bonnet and Nina Engelhard, into a power hike.
Australia’s top performers were Lara Hamilton (42nd) and Michael Kernahan (54th), leading the charge in front of a loud Australian cheer squad who’d taken the chairlift up. That team energy became a hallmark of the week, with camaraderie at dinner and shared stories of the day creating a strong sense of unity.
The second day’s Short Trail covered 45 km, less vertical than the uphill but with an extra 39 kilometres of rugged Pyrenean terrain. It was arguably the most brutal of the four races. Those who had trained or raced on the course before had a clear advantage, including Sweden’s Tove Alexandersson, who won the women’s race by more than 33 minutes.
France’s Frederic Tranchard claimed the men’s title, while Blake Turner edged out Vlad Ixel to be the first Australian male home in 85th. Sarah-Jayne Miller led the women’s team in 69th, followed by Patricia McKibbin (76th) and Jess Jason (79th).
At the halfway mark of the event, the Long Trail brought a new level of endurance. The 82 km course demanded everything from the runners. For fans of the sport, the 8 hours and 35 minutes of Jim Walmsley’s winning run now available online is essential viewing. Katie Schide’s women’s victory in 9 hours and 57 minutes was equally impressive.
Even a few minutes of footage show why this event is as much a travel inspiration as an athletic one. Eight Australians tackled the course, cheered on by teammates who had raced earlier in the week.
Nicole Paton drew on her Victorian mountain experience to finish as the first Australian woman in 55th, while Ben Burgess, self-proclaimed unemployed vagabond, used his freedom well to finish 49th. A heart-warming finish came from team captain Matt Crehan and Andrew Gaskell, who spent much of the race together and crossed the line side by side.
The final day shifted from extreme distance to extreme pace. First up was Australia’s sole junior female representative, Ruby Smith, who finished 57th after a tumble on the fast, technical Mountain Classic course.
In the junior men’s race, Alec Franzke delivered one of Australia’s standout performances. The quietly determined young runner from Mt Beauty, several years younger than most of his competitors, climbed to 10th at the halfway mark. Having battled injury in the lead-up, Alec faded to 29th but earned admiration from teammates and coaches alike for his grit and potential.
Next up, Lara Hamilton, Jess Ronan and Emily Bartlett took on the women’s Classic race, with Jess achieving her best result to date, finishing 58th and first Australian.
Then came the men’s Classic, where Nathan Pearce, Michael Kernahan and Fraser Darcy delivered a strong finish to the championships. Feeding off the energy of their teammates on course, the trio ran with determination, finishing 46th (Nathan), 49th (Michael) and 62nd (Fraser). Their combined result earned Australia its best team score of the event.
In total, Australia placed 11th out of 73 nations, a remarkable achievement for a team that travelled so far with only the support of friends, family and each other.
Results only tell part of the story. Trail running is as much about the course as the competition, and the shared experience is what lingers. Whether it was a Spanish fan shouting encouragement from a switchback or teammates cheering at the finish line, the sense of support was constant.
For the 25-strong Australian team, these memories will last long beyond the medals. And for anyone dreaming of representing Australia, the next World Championships will be held in Cape Town, South Africa, in 2027. Expect incredible scenery, a close-knit team environment and unforgettable racing.
Sounds tempting, doesn’t it? Two years to train. See you on the start line!
Men
54. Michael Kernahan – 0:44:52
63. Nathan Pearce – 0:45:52
78. Fraser Darcy – 0:47:12
98. Iain Best – 0:50:18
Women
42. Lara Hamilton – 0:52:55
56. Jessica Ronan – 0:55:09
88. Emily Bartlett – 1:03:23
Men
85. Blake Turner – 5:55:09
89. Vladislav Ixel – 5:56:20
157. Billy Curtis – 7:26:04
Women
69. Sarah-Jayne Miller – 7:05:27
76. Patricia McKibbin – 7:21:44
79. Jessica Jason – 7:24:50
Men
49. Ben Burgess – 10:26:53
81. Andrew Gaskell – 11:13:14
82. Matthew Crehan – 11:13:14
110. Thomas Dade – 12:14:26
Women
55. Nicole Paton – 12:58:11
57. Cecelia Mattas – 12:59:19
81. Kellie Angel – 14:24:15
– Hannah McRae – Retired
U20 Men (8 km | +397 m)
29. Alec Franzke – 0:37:18
73. Robert Shannon – 0:42:42
78. Tadhg Nolan – 0:46:54
U20 Women
57. Ruby Smith – 0:53:50
Classic Men (14 km | +775 m)
46. Nathan Pearce – 1:10:31
49. Michael Kernahan – 1:10:58
62. Fraser Darcy – 1:12:21
Classic Women
58. Jessica Ronan – 1:27:30
85. Emily Bartlett – 1:36:01
– Lara Hamilton – Retired
RunDais – You can read more of Fraser’s writing on his blog.
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