Nepali trail runners have once again demonstrated their prowess on the global stage, with Suman Kulung and Anita Rai achieving impressive finishes at the Adidas Terrex Infinite Trails event in Gastein Valley, Austria.

Representing the Dr Sigrid Schwarzenbacher Foundation team, the duo stood out among elite trail runners from around the world in the competitions that concluded on Saturday.

Kulung claimed victory in the men’s individual 45 km race, completing the challenging course in an impressive time of 4 hours, 41 minutes, and 55 seconds.

He finished over ten minutes ahead of Gordon Gianniny from the US, who represented the Adidas Terrex team and crossed the line in 4:56:00. Austrian runner Patrick Lemmerer finished third with a time of 4:58:47, completing the podium for the event, which had 180 finishers in the 45K category. Full results

Kulung’s commanding win follows his commendable fourth-place finish at the 50K Marathon Trail race in Fieberbrunn, Austria, last month.

The race in Gastein covers approximately 45 km and includes around 3,000m of elevation gain, making it both physically and mentally challenging. It takes participants on a demanding and picturesque route through the scenic valley in northern Salzburg.

The course begins and ends in Bad Hofgastein, leading runners through diverse landscapes, from lush forest trails to technical ridges and steep climbs.

Runners ascend the Planitzenweg and Poserhöhe, descend the steep Zwergalweg, and then face a demanding climb towards the Graukogel Middle Station. The ascent culminates at the Tischkogel summit, offering panoramic views of the surrounding alpine landscape. From there, the runners navigate rocky and narrow trails along the ridge before heading towards the final descent into the Alpen Arena.

Meanwhile, Anita Rai delivered an equally remarkable performance in the women’s event, securing second place with a time of 10:28:01, once again highlighting the strength of Nepali athletes in international competitions.

Germany’s Isabel Avens won the race in 10:14:43, while fellow German runner Sophia Huber of the Adidas Runners Munich team finished third with a time of 10:36:28.

The 60K course runners over three summits in the scenic Gastein Valley: Gamskarkogel (2,467m), Graukogel (2,492m) and Stubnerkogel (2,246m). Gamskarkogel is Europe’s tallest grass-covered mountain.

Beginning at Bad Hofgastein’s Alpen Arena, the course quickly transitions to trail running. After a brief asphalt section, the runners climb via Höhenweg, pass aid stations, and reach the Gamskarkogel alpine hut with 1,900m of elevation gain. Next, they tackle Graukogel, the second peak, with 1,000 steep metres to its summit. After passing aid stations and scenic views, the trail continues steeply to Tischkogel (2,433m) and finally descends through Angertal to the finish at Alpen Arena.