Following outstanding performances at the International Selection Trials held early this year and in line with IMRA’s international selection criteria, we are proud to announce the athletes selected to represent Ireland at the World Mountain & Trail Running Championships (WMTRC) in Canfranc-Pirineos, Spain, 25th – 28th September 2025.
For the first time in history, Spain and the Pyrenees will host the WMTRC. Canfranc-Pirineos, world-famous for its iconic International Railway Station, serves as the epicenter for this spectacular event.
The Championships will feature five challenging race disciplines: Uphill, Classic Up & Down, Short Trail, Long Trail, and U20 Classic. The event is expected to draw around 1,700 athletes from 70 countries.
The athletes who have been selected to represent Ireland have been busy training and preparing themselves. Training plans include a mixture of strength, aerobic & anaerobic and active recovery, with many athletes running between 100km – 200km per week. Some athletes have chosen to travel abroad to locations which mimic race conditions, others are trekking around Ireland in search of technical terrains and peaks. The U20 squad have been provided with a comprehensive training plan by Sarah McCormack (missing link coaching) who will also be wearing the green jersey in what will be her 25th time representing Ireland in international races!
IMRA are affiliated with AAI who provide us with our official race kit as part of a memorandum of understanding in place between our organisations. The management team are working on all the pre-trip logistics like kit distribution, entry submissions, travel plans, coaching plans and other ad hoc support needs for the 33-person squad travelling to Spain. The support from AAI continues to be a valuable part of our international trips each year.
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Team Management Support:
The squad will be supported on the trip by the following people on behalf of IMRA.
Miriam Maher, Richard Nunan, Liam Vines, Nick Hogan, Kate Flynn and Phil Hodge with Paul Tierney providing physio support.
Race Format Highlights:
•Uphill: 6.5 km vertical ascent with 986 m elevation gain.
•Classic: Two loops of the mountains of Canfranc totalling: 15 km with ~820 m of climb
•U20 Classic (Junior): A single 7.5 km loop with 400 m elevation gain
•Short Trail: 44.5 km with ~3,650–3,700 m of ascent, incorporating iconic climbs like LaMoleta and crossing into France.
•Long Trail: The ultra-distance challenge of 82 km and 5,700 m of elevation gain, traversing breathtaking terrain including Ibones de Ayous and the French Pyrenees.
The Championships are led by Aragonese and national institutions, delivered in partnership with World Athletics, WMRA, ITRA, IAU, and RFEA.
Team Ireland Selections
Uphill Only
•Ladies: Sarah McCormack, Kate McDonald, Lisa Hegarty, Edel Monaghan
•Men: Zak Hanna, Aaron McGrady, Jared Martin, Matthew McConnell
Classic Up & Down
•Ladies: Sarah Mulligan, Louise Murray, Jo Hickman Dunne, Dee Collins
•Men: Killian Mooney, Jared Martin, Matthew McConnell, Martin Keohane
Long Trail
•Ladies: Aoife Mundow
•Men: Ricki Wynne, Paddy O’Leary, Cillian Flemming
Short Trail
•Ladies: Laura O’Driscoll, Sorcha Loughnane, Esther Dickson
• Men: Enda Cloake, Luke Weldon, John Kinsella, Gavin Byrne
U20 Classic
•U20 Boys: Finn Yore, Eoin McConnell, Rudy Mayne, Riley Connolly
• U20 Girls: Anna McGookin, Abby Smith, Sinead Farrell, Alaoise Geraghty
Please note: all team selections have been chosen inline with IMRA High performance team selection criteria. A comprehensive assessment of athletes and their volunteer record is also monitored regularly.
For more information visit: https://www.imra.ie/
