Balendran Takes SkyUltra Gold by 35 Minutes

The Norwegian claimed the women’s SkyUltra world title at the 2026 Skyrunning World Championships in La Gomera, crossing the line in San Sebastián in 7:27:16.

Alone from kilometre seven

Balendran reached the first checkpoint at Playa de Vallehermoso, kilometre 7.5, already 1:37 ahead of Spain’s Mireia Pons. By the time the race returned to Vallehermoso the gap had stretched to 4:34. At Los Aceviños it stood at 8:50, and it only grew.

The route, linking coast to island interior through Los Tiles, El Cedro and La Cabezada, asked for 62.3 kilometres and 3,775 metres of climbing. Compact early terrain and milder temperatures helped, but the humidity and rugged ground kept the challenge honest. Balendran passed every checkpoint first, her lead never once threatened.

European champion, now world champion

She closed out the victory a full 35:35 ahead of the runner-up. Behind her, the race was anything but quiet. Mireia Pons held silver in 8:02:51, while Careth Arnold of the United States mounted a fierce late chase on the descent into San Sebastián, cutting 1:20 in the final 2.8 kilometres to take bronze in 8:03:00 — just nine seconds back.

Balendran, the 2025 SkyUltra European champion after her win in Santicolo, arrived on La Gomera as a pre-race favourite and delivered a wire-to-wire performance. Among the 87 starters, she finished 16th overall, the first woman by a distance that made the outcome feel settled early yet never ordinary.

A quiet morning on a volcanic island, and a world title won from the front.