WELCOME, WELCOME, WELCOME to the June 2025 edition of Sub Hub Headlines!

Excitedly yours, Dani and EmKay

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Upcoming Episodes - Hayden Hawks on injury and longevity in sport. Sunapee Scramble run-down. Lots and lots of Broken Arrow content!!!

Sub Hub Stories: David Norris

This past weekend at the Sunapee Scramble, we crowned the newly minted USA teams for the Mountain Classic distance and simultaneously crowned two new USATF Mountain Running Champions. On the men’s side, David Norris skillfully moved up the field during the first climb before taking the lead on the descent, heading into the second lap.

David is an endurance powerhouse with five wins at the world-famous Mount Marathon. He also claimed the 2019 National Nordic Skiing Championship and has two victories at the American Birkebeiner. We caught up with the newly crowned champion to ask him a few questions.

You can catch David next at Broken Arrow where he will be lining up for the World Class 46k.

You’ve had some incredible results on both snow and trail, what did it mean to you to clinch this national title at Sunapee and earn your spot on Team USA? 

This is a special win for sure. Coming into the weekend I really didn’t know where I would stack up- In comparison, I always know going into a ski race what will be a realistic goal for the day. I’m confident in very steep terrain (like hiking steep), but just didn’t know how that might shake out in a race that had lots of runnable terrain. I’ve been working on my pure running economy so this weekend was a nice reassurance that the training is going in the right direction.

Sunapee is a brutal course with steep climbs and fast descents. How did you approach this race tactically, and was there a moment when you knew the win was within reach?

Ya, this course has some really technical sections and with all the rain the portions that would have normally been straight forward became slick! Tactically, my plan was to stay relaxed and hold back on the first lap- both in the climbing and descending. I wasn’t sure how my legs would hold up to a screaming downhill prior to another hard climb on lap two. I realized the win was possible with about a minute left in the final climb- the last minute or two of the climb went back to the service road and that was the first time I gained line of sight of the leader. The first half of the downhill was significantly more technical than the bottom half so I pushed that upper terrain and moved into the lead. After going into the front I was trying to downhill as fast as possible and just felt like I was sprinting the last five minutes on the service road to hold the lead.

You’ve been balancing skiing and trail running at a high level, how has your Nordic background contributed to your success in mountain running, especially on courses like this?

In general, cross-country skiing is great training for trail/mountain running. The year round training and consistency leads skiers to have great motors. With a course like Sunapee I think I was well prepared for the technicality mostly because of growing up running in Alaska. Fairbanks has lots of wet roots and Anchorage is steep and rocky. As a focused ski racer I ran as much as I could each summers and that love for spending hours in the mountains has taught me how to scramble around and move quickly in technical terrain.

Looking ahead to the World Championships in Canfranc, Spain, what excites you most about representing Team USA, and how do you anticipate your preparation will look for the course ?

Anytime you get to represent Team USA it’s an honor and comes with so much excitement. I look forward to sharing these feelings with the other American qualifiers and making a bunch of new friendships. I’m sure the most memorable moments will be the time spent hanging out with teammates during this upcoming trip! As for preparation, I will continue to work on my economy and speed. I am targeting OCC later in August, so after OCC I’ll take a bit of a rest and then likely do a few short/hard efforts to tune up and get ready to red line from the gun in Spain. Can’t wait!

Lastly, any shout outs you want to make for the people/partners in your life?

Absolutely, my wife deserves a huge shout-out as she is the one who, on the daily, has to put up with me setting the alarm super early so I can get workouts in before work or lately I’m not joining her for every post-work mountain bike ride cause I’m geeking out on my running workouts. She makes the busy lifestyle possible. My coworkers are very supportive as well and I credit that work environment with my ability to continue training well. My sponsors have been highly supportive and I appreciate the relationship I have with all of them: On and Tailwind Nutrition have supported me since I shifted more of my focus towards trail running two years ago so it’s great to share a big achievement with the og partners!

Results Recap

May 3rd
🇷🇴 Zmeu X-Fest – WMRA Mountain Running Cup

Women

1. Scout Adkin - 2:03:18

2. Valentine Rutto - 2:18:57

3. Madelina Amariei - 2:18:57

Men

1. Paul Machoka - 1:48:52

2. Kevin Kibet - 1:49:13

3. Henri Aymonod - 1:49:15

May 4th
🇯🇵Ueda Skyrace - Skyrunner World Series

Women

1. Takako Takamura - 4:19

2. Iris Pessey - 4:41

3. Suzuha Kusuda - 4:53

Men

1. Ruy Ueda - 3:33

2. Tsubasa Fuji - 3:52

3. Marcel Hoche - 3:55

May 9th
🌋Transvulcania VK

Women

1. Maude Mathys - 56:40* New Record

2. Silvia Lara Dieguez - 1:02:22

3. Yuri Yoshizumi - 1:02:46

Men

1. Luca Del Pero - 47:59

2. Diego Diaz Ortega - 50:41

3. Boris Orlhac - 50:49

May 10th
🌋Transvulcania Half-Marathon

Women

1. Maude Mathys - 2:37* New Record

2. Alba Valladares - 2:48

3. Silvia Lara - 2:49

Men

1. Luca Del Pero - 2:11* New Record

2. Sergio Alvarez - 2:12

3. Daniel Osanz - 2:21

May 10th
🌋Transvulcania Marathon

Women

1. Maria Teresa La Chica - 4:29* New Record

2. Sheila Aviles - 4:36

3. Ines Astrain - 4:47

Men

1. Raul Criado - 3:43* New Record

2. Tobias Baggenstos - 3:45

3. Andrea Prandi - 3:48

May 10th
🇹🇷Tahtali Run to Sky – Skyrunner World Series

Women

1. Anastasia Rubtsova - 3:17

2. Carrodilla Cabestre - 3:26

3. Naira Irigoyen - 3:28

Men

1. Alain Santamaria - 2:46

2. Nicolas Molina - 2:46

3. Jose Manuel Quispe - 2:50

May 17th
🇮🇹Il Golfo dell’Isola - Golden Trail World Series

Women

1. Madelina Florea - 2:22:25

2. Philaries Kisang- 2:22:51

3. Valentine Rutto - 2:25:33

Men

1. Philemon Kiriago - 2:01:47

2. Elhousine Elazzaoui - 2:02:05

3. Paul Machoka - 2:02:44

May 17th
🏔Monte Zerbion Skyrace - Skyrunner World Series

Women

1. Lucille Germain - 2:40:22

2. Denisa Dragomir - 2:45:09

3. Fabiola Conti - 2:48:21

Men

1. Gianluca Ghiano - 2:12:55

2. Alex Oberbacher - 2:15:14

3. Manuel Merillas - 2:18:27

May 25th
🇪🇸Zegama - Golden Trail World Series

Women

1. Sara Alonso - 4:27:25

2. Judith Wyder - 4:29:47

3. Malen Osa - 4:31:18

Men

1. Elhousine Elazzoui - 3:43:28

2. Andreu Blanes - 3:50:53

3. Daniel Pattis - 3:51:40

May 25th
🇮🇹Trofeo Nasego VK – WMRA Mountain Running Cup

Women

1. Philaries Kisang - 38:55

2. Scout Adkin - 39:23

3. Francesca Ghelfi - 40:40

Men

1. Richard Omaya - 33:23* New Record

2. Philemon Kiriago - 34:50

3. Andrea Elia - 34:52

May 26th
🇮🇹Trofeo Nasego – WMRA Mountain Running Cup

Women

1. Philaries Kisang - 1:46:16

2. Scout Adkin - 1:46:22

3. Joyce Muthonic Njeru - 1:51:33

Men

1. Philemon Kiriago - 1:31:43

2. Paul Machoka - 1:34:17

3. Michael Selelo Saoli - 1:34:43
   

***indicates an athlete who has previously served a doping ban

Current Series Rankings

🏔Golden Trail World Series Top 10 - Zegama and Noli shook up the rankings quite a bit! Sara Alonso holds onto her lead and Philemon Kirigao moves up to first. We are halfway through the Golden Trail World Series with the North American tour up next.

🏔Skyrunner World Series Ranking - There are still a handful of ties after another month of racing, but expect the Skyrunner rankings to shift frequently with events happening nearly every weekend. As of June 2nd, the Hochkönig Skyrace results hadn't been factored in—but with Lucille earning another major win there, we expect her to now be tied with Anastasia in the overall rankings.

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Sub-Ultra Athletes of the Month

At the start of 2024, we set out to highlight the best in Sub-Ultra trail running—not just at year’s end, but all year long. Through our Athlete of the Month series, we celebrated standout performances, rising stars, and unforgettable moments that shaped the sport. Now, in 2025, we’re keeping the momentum going and adding something new: Special Mentions: athletes who may not be in the monthly spotlight but still deserve a serious shoutout.

The year-end Top 10? That’s still happening. But until then, we’re here to celebrate the athletes who keep pushing the limits of what’s possible one performance at a time.

Sara Alonso

There are moments in sport when the weight of an athlete’s win feels surreal. For Sara Alonso, this victory carries an extra layer of meaning, rooted in her deep connection to Zegama and the journey that led her to claim this iconic global race in 2025. After a breakout debut in 2022, where she finished 3rd and helped break the course record, it seemed that 2023 was destined to be her year. However, the universe had other plans—an injury in the form of a pubic bone fracture (2023), followed by pneumonia (2024), kept her from starting the race in her hometown. As the 2025 edition approached, all eyes were on Sara, and it felt like her moment had finally arrived.

While her win wasn’t entirely unexpected, the tension in the air was palpable. Zegama, much like Boston, is a race where, regardless of the winning time, the true champions are those who win the hearts of the Basque people. Pressure may break some, but it only seems to sharpen Sara, who thrives under it. With her GTWS lead, a win at the first race of the season, and upcoming races at OCC and Worlds, there’s a strong chance that 2025 will be the greatest year of Sara’s career.

Let Sara’s journey be a reminder: trials and setbacks are chapters, not the entire book.

Honorable Mentions:  Madalina Florea (1st, Noli GTWS), Malen Osa (second podium finish at Zegama, 3rd place ), Lucille Germain (earned her 3rd straight win on the Skyrunner World Series)

Philemon Kiriago

There's a saying, "Always the bridesmaid, but never the bride." While this might seem like the most straightforward and cliché phrase to apply to Mr. Philemon Kiriago, I just don’t think it fits. Philemon has consistently played a key role in defining some of the greatest sub-ultra races in our sport’s history. While he hasn’t always been the one to stand at the top of the podium, he’s always been there—pushing the pace and elevating those around him. He makes the men competing alongside him better.

This month, Philemon claimed gold at both the Il Golfo dell’Isola Golden Trail World Series race and the iconic Trofeo Naseo. Maybe he just really loves Italy! But what stands out most this year is how he’s racing with an incredible blend of shape and confidence. You can tell from the footage that he’s not just in peak form, he’s running with a level of intensity and belief that will make him a force to reckon with all summer long.

The spotlight might have been elusive at times, but it’s firmly on him now, and we think this summer is just heating up for him.

Honorable Mentions: Daniel Pattis (2nd place,Zegama), Elhousine Elazzoui (finally wins Zegama), Luca Del Pero (Transvulcania Vk + Half- Marathon win, 4th place Zegama)

USA Championship and Selection Races

All USATF Championships and Team USA selection races we will be following this year, and you should too.😉 We already have selected 2 USA Teams (Long Trail + Classic Mountain), who will make the remaining two (Ascent + Short Trail)?

Looking Forward

For the month of June we have some big races happening in the US again. By the time this newsletter comes out Sunapee Scramble with have already happened and another US team will have been selected. The combination of Broken Arrow, TrailCon and WSER bring one of the most popular 10 days in American trail running. Are you ready? Because we already are getting over the moon excited.

Golden Trail World Series:

• Broken Arrow Skyrace — June 22nd | Olympic Valley, California, USA

  An already iconic race in the American trail scene, Broken Arrow gains even more intrigue with the 23k now being a Golden Trail World Series race.

• Tepec Trail — June 29th | Huasca de Ocampo, Mexico

  A new addition to the Golden Trail Series, and hopefully a staple for North American athletes. It's exciting to have a back-to-back weekend early in the season for US, Canadian, and Mexican athletes, along with an influx of international talent. With high altitude, scorching temperatures, and technical terrain, we're eager to see how Mexico challenges these world-class athletes.

Skyrunner World Series:

• Skyrace Gorges du Tarn — June 7th | St Enimie, France
  Fast and slick rock, somewhat runnable—this is one of the faster Skyrunner races, but still one of the most technical in the world. Picture slick granite followed by steep, soft descents where runners are grabbing onto trees to make sharp turns. What makes this race faster is that you can run most of it, but don’t look down, or you’ll be staring straight into the Gorge.

• Minotaur Skyrace – June 21st | Crowsnest Pass, Canada
  Canadian Classic. This race is the essence of skyrunning. One of the only Skyraces in the Americas, it features long, alpine-exposed, steep climbs and even recommends wearing a helmet. If you love shale and talus, you need to check out this race—the visuals are truly stunning. Did I mention exposure? Yeah, there’s plenty of that.

• Ibarra Skyrace – June 29th | Ibarra, Ecuador
  A new race on the Skyrunner circuit. From what I could find it looks a little similar to Minotaur, exposure, shale, and we can assumer it will be high altitude. We are very excited to see how this race ends up comparing to other skyrunner races and which runners will be heading out to South America.

US Team Selection Races:

• Broken Arrow Skyrace Vertical – June 20th | Olympic Valley, California, USA
  The Ascent serves as the Team USA Selection race for the Uphill category. With a mix of International and the best America has to offer, we undoubtedly are going to witness the deepest VK GLOBALLY. Will we witness another epic sprint to the podium on either side like last year’s men’s race between Christian Allen and Mikael Beaudoin Rousseau? We are willing to bet on it.

• Broken Arrow Skyrace 46K – June 21st | Olympic Valley, California, USA
  What do the best American marathon-50k trail runners have in common? Nearly all of them will be lining up for the 46k at Broken Arrow on Saturday. While Broken Arrow has always had fierce competition for the top 3 spots, this year’s field is the deepest we’ve ever seen. With numerous athletes who’ve placed in the top 5, 10, or 15 at GTWS races, OCC, and Worlds, this American-centric race is set to deliver. Typically, the winner is often decided after the first lap of this 2-lap course, but we’d venture to say the race will still be wide open. So grab your popcorn and popsicles—this is one you won’t want to miss. Oh, and by the way, the top 3 men and women will make Team USA for the short trail distance at Worlds. No big deal.