Success at the 10th Youth Skyrunning World Championships!
May 18,2026
Scottorn Mcmillen, Kendal Bowen, Evvi Tower, Enzo Giampaolo, Eston Sutherland along side coaches Ryan Kerrigan and Hanni Guinn in the village square Makarska, Croatia at the opening ceremony.
Last Week in Makarska, Croatia, five American athletes toed the line at the 10th Youth Skyrunning World Championships.
Kendal Bowen (VT), Enzo Giampaolo (ME) Scottorn McMillen (NV) Eston Sutherland (CO) and Evvi Tower (VT) all put a strong foot forward on these grueling, technical and beautiful courses which were unique to any youth running event in The US.
Most notably Kendal Bowen clinched a bronze medal in The VK®, a silver in the SkyRace® and another silver in the combined category in the women’s youth A categories.
Also, Enzo Giampaolo racked up 3 top 10 finishes in the men’s youth B categories. Enzo managed this despite badly gashing his leg early in the final descent of the SkyRace®. Medics at the finish promptly sent Enzo off the hospital for stitches. Despite losing some time with the incident, Enzo had an excellent performance and now a new scar to remember the week by.
“Honestly, when I heard the event was slated for early May I had doubts.” - Ryan Kerrigan Head Coach US Skyrunning
“I wasn’t sure we could assemble any kind of team given that this month is generally devoted to final exams and graduations, and I certainly didn’t expect that we would be able to pull together such an outstanding team not only of athletes with great mountain prowess but also great quality of character. Bowen and Giampaolo’s outstanding performances only added to the stoke!”
US Skyrunning expresses our never-ending applause to The Monte Biokovo race organization, The Skyrunning Federation and all of the athletes, coaches and volunteers that made this very memorable week possible, and we hope for more skyrunning champs events in this location in the future.
Kendal Bowen (Right) celebrates silver in the main square in Makarska village among over 200 fellow athletes from over 30 countries.
Enzo Giampaolo cranking for the finish in The VK® earning 6th place in the men’s youth B category.
What’s next for US Skyrunning?
Well, with the Youth World Championships wrapped up athletes are now setting their sights on the Youth North and Central American Skyrunning Champs in Crowsnest Pass, Alberta, Canada on the last weekend of June.
General event information and application is available here .
If interested in representing USA Skyrunning at this event please notify and submit application ASAP as final entries are due next week.
“I’m still pinching myself that this event is happening. It’s such a great opportunity to grow the sport with our young skyrunners right here on North American soil. Combined with the Merrell Skyrunner® US Series it’s like Christmas all year long” - John Kerrigan President US Skyrunning
The Kismet Cliff Run (NH) offers free entry to US Youth Skyrunning Team.
Tom Hooper of 603 Endurance and director of The Kismet Cliff Run has generously offered free entries to youth US Skyrunning team members for this year’s event.
US Skyrunning is very grateful to Tom and The Kismet Cliff Run organization for all of their work to keep skyrunning growing on US soil.
More details and registration for The Kismet Cliff Run available here.
You're What Gets Them There Support American Skyrunners on the World Stage
American skyrunners are among the strongest in the world. This year, they're ready to prove it.
US Skyrunning is sending teams to five major championship events in 2025 — the Youth Continental Championships in Canada, the Youth World Championships in Croatia, the World Championships in Spain, and the Skymasters Championships in France and Portugal. Athletes will compete alongside the best in the world, representing the USA at every level.
Getting there takes more than talent. Travel, lodging, uniforms, coaching, and federation fees all stand between these athletes and the starting line. That's where you come in.
Every dollar you give puts an American skyrunner on that mountain.
Three Ways to Make It Happen
Become a Vert Member — $30 Unlock up to 60% off gear from 400+ outdoor brands. It pays for itself on your first purchase — and every sale supports the team.
Official US Skyrunning gear for the mountain, the track, and the trail. Look the part. Fund the mission.
Make a Direct Donation No gear needed — just belief. Every dollar goes toward putting US athletes on the world stage, from the starting line to the podium.
Be Part of What's Next
US Skyrunning is looking for a title sponsor
Skyrunning is catching fire in the United States. After years of groundwork laid by coaches, race directors, and federation leadership, the sport is hitting an inflection point — and we're ready to grow it right.
A title sponsorship puts your brand at the center of that story. You'll reach a passionate, high-performance endurance community and play a direct role in shaping the future of the sport — from international competition to grassroots development.
With the right partner, US Skyrunning can attract elite talent, build a national development pipeline, and expand access to camps, coaching, and community programs worldwide.
What you get: prominent visibility across our website, media, and newsletter — and something harder to buy: genuine alignment with a sport and community that's on the rise.
If that sounds like your kind of investment, let's talk. 📩 usaskyrunning@gmail.com
Run Higher. Train Together.
Is your camp part of the skyrunning movement?
We're building a national network of training camps — and we want to know if yours belongs in it. If you run a camp that pushes athletes into the mountains and beyond, there's a place for you in this community.
No fees. Just fill out the questionnaire on our website to get started.
What's on Your Running Playlist?
We're building the ultimate skyrunning soundtrack — and we want your picks.
We’re springing into the mountains and racking up the final vert before summer competitions.
We've been adding new tracks to the official US Skyrunning playlist — give it a listen and send us your suggestions.
This month's additions:
The Last Stop (Live at the United Center, Chicago, IL) - Dave Matthew’s Band
Chihiro — Gravagerz
Electric Lines - Joe Goddard
