Ten Women to Watch at the WMTRC

We take a look at just some of the women to keep an eye on in the Uphill and Classic Up and Down mountain races in Chiang Mai this weeked.

Coming after a full season of racing and with the new 2 race format, there's more intrigue than ever in the run up to the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships. Fast, exciting racing is a certainty, with close battles and sensational stories guaranteed well beyond the medal positions.

Here, in alphabetical order, are just 10 of the women who we think could have a role in the drama.

The full entry lists for both races can be found here.

Scout Adkin – G.B. & N.I. Uphill & Classic Up and Down

Adkin was one of the top performers across both races at July's European Championships; bronze in the Classic and 4^th place in the Uphill. Since then, she has been 2^nd at both Challenge Stellina and Chiavenna-Lagunc, to Grayson Murphy and Andrea Mayr respectively. More recently she ran the fastest opening leg at the British Fell and Hill Relays in Scotland, coming in just 4 seconds ahead of 2019 bronze medalist Phillipa Williams, who will be her teammate in Chiang Mai.

Rispa Cherop – Uganda Classic Up and Down

The Ugandan women's team might be the biggest unknown at this championship. While the men have swept the medals at 4 of the last 7 championships, the only time the country has sent a full women's team was in 2015, when they came away with team bronze and Stella Chesang as World Champion. They will surely be a factor again in Thailand, with Rispa Cherop looking set to lead the charge, having taken a comfortable win at the trial race in early October.

Monica Madalena Florea – Romania Classic Up and Down

Finishing 18^th in the long distance race in Argentina, Florea's results in 2022 indicate she could go a lot better this time round. European Championship Silver in the Classic Up and Down in July was followed by 3^rd at Giir di Mont Uphill (behind only Andrea Mayr and Joyce Njeru), 2^nd at Vertical Nasego and 4^th at Trofeo Nasego the next day. Can she emulate her compatriots Cristina Simion and Denisa Dragomir, who have both won medals in recent World Championships?

Alice Gaggi – Italy Classic Up and Down

It is hard to pick the standout from the Italian ranks as a number of athletes have taken turns coming out on top in their head to heads this year. Gaggi has abundant championship experience, taking the title in 2013 and finishing in the top 6 no fewer than 6 times. Her recent form looks good; she won Trofeo Ciolo in late September, beating a number of her teammates in the process. The Azzuri won team silver and bronze at the European Championships and will have an eye on more team medals in Thailand.

Lauren Gregory – USA. Uphill & Classic Up and Down

Defending champion Grayson Murphy may be out injured, but luckily for the U.S.A. their women's lineup is still packed with talent. Gregory took a convincing win at the inaugural U.S.A.T.F. Vertical Mountain Running Championships at Loon Mountain in July and has followed that up with strong results at Trofeo Nasego, 3^rd, and Flagstaff Sky Peaks, 5^th. She won junior bronze at the 2017 World Championship in Premana, can she do the same again as a senior?

Chiara Mainetti – Argentina Classic Up and Down

Mainetti already had multiple national titles to her name when she added the South American Up and Down title to her CV in San Juan in August. Her Championship results are on an upward trajectory; 41st in Andorra in 2018, 13th on home soil in 2019. She's been on the roads since then, making her marathon debut in London, will the extra leg speed and endurance allow her to continue to improve?

Sarah McCormack – Ireland Classic Up and Down

After a disappointing performance at the European Championships, McCormack has been on strong form in recent months; 5^th at Sierre-Zinal, 2^nd at Šmarna gora and a win at Trofeo Vanoni. Twice a top 10 finisher at the World Championships, she was 12^th at the most recent champs in Argentina in 2019. She is one of a few athletes running only one race, skipping the Uphill to keep her powder dry for the Classic Up and Down. Will fresher legs make the difference?

Maude Mathys – Switzerland Uphill and Classic Up and Down

Mathys has been unstoppable at the European Championships in recent years, taking every title since 207, including double gold this year in El Paso. A World Championships win has proved elusive though; 4^th in 2014 and 2017, a silver medal in Andorra in 2018 is her strongest performance to date. She's maintained her form since the Euros, with 2^nd at both Sierre-Zinal and Pikes Peak Ascent, can she finally claim World Championship gold in Thailand?

Andrea Mayr – Austria Uphill and Classic Up and Down

Sixteen years after her first World Championship win, the great Austrian goes in search of a record breaking 7^th World title in Chiang Mai. Now 43, she shows no sign of slowing down and has taken numerous big wins in 2022; Piz Tri Vertical, Fletta Trail, Vertical and Trofeo Nasego, Šmarna gora and KV Chiavenna-Lagunc, the Valsir World Cup Final.

Joyce Njeru – Kenya Uphill and Classic Up and Down

Njeru has been stupendous in 2022. The defending World Cup champion returned to the circuit in even better form than 2021 and dominated the series, taking 6 Gold Label wins. She maintains a big lead at the top of the World Mountain Running Ranking, a position she has occupied for well over a year. Barring disaster, she will be looking to improve significantly on the 13^th place she managed at the 2018 championship in Andorra.

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Photos by Corsa in Montagna.