British runner begins mountain running global series in style with women’s win as Paul Machoka takes men’s title
The mystical forests of Bukovina came alive on Saturday (May 3) as the Zmeu X-Fest Mountain Race unfolded in a dramatic display of endurance, strategy and raw mountain power. Held in the heart of Câmpulung Moldovenesc, the 19km race with a staggering 1,750 metres of elevation gain led athletes through a breathtaking yet brutal course shaped by nature and legend.
Named after the “Zmeu”—a mythical dragon-like figure from Romanian folklore—the event fused modern sport with deep cultural roots, taking runners past 15th-century monasteries, moss-laden ridgelines and the fabled Runc climb, ominously nicknamed “The Wall.”
The route wound through dense pine forest, past the painted monasteries of Bukovina, and into steep alpine meadows where legends say the Zmeu once soared. Spectators lined the wooded paths and clearing edges, banging cowbells and waving flags as athletes pushed their limits through this sacred terrain.
In the women’s competition, Scout Adkin of Britain delivered a tactically flawless and physically dominant performance. After a measured approach to the early ascent, she surged ahead on the infamous Runc climb—pushing at a phenomenal 1,700m per hour. From there, she maintained full control, never looking back, and finishing not only first among the women but a remarkable eighth overall.
Behind her, Valentine Rutto of Kenya and Mădălina Amăriei of Romania fought an intense battle, crossing the line together in a rare and dramatic photo finish.
“The course is savage—but spectacular,” said Adkin.
The men’s race opened at a blistering pace, with Paul Machoka and Kevin Kibet of Kenya charging into the lead on the first major climb—ascending at an incredible 2,200m per hour. The chasing pack, led by Italian stars Henri Aymonod, Andrea Rostan, Alberto Vender, and Patrick Petit, along with Portuguese Marcelo Gonçalves, kept the pressure high.
As the race approached 7km and the Runc climb, dubbed “The Wall” for its unrelenting gradient, the leaders maintained their tempo, but it was Henri Aymonod who delivered a late-race surge. Over the final 5km, he clawed back 30 seconds, closing in on the Kenyan duo with every step.
The race culminated in a thrilling near-sprint finish, with Aymonod just seconds behind the top two.
“I gave everything on that final descent,” said Aymonod. “Catching the Kenyans wasn’t easy, but this course brings out the fighter in all of us.”
The World Cup action now shifts to Italy, where the mountain running elite will reconvene in Casto, Brescia, for a weekend double-header: the Vertical Nasego and the legendary Trofeo Nasego, on May 24–25.
After this weekend’s electrifying opener in Romania, expectations are high—and so are the mountains.
