RABOUTOU LAYS DOWN WOMEN’S LEAD MARKER, DUFFY CONTINUES WHERE HE LEFT OFF IN INNSBRUCK
USA’s Brooke Raboutou set the standard on the second day of competition in Villars, Switzerland, as 161 Lead climbers took to the wall for qualifications.
With Olympic champion Janja Garnbret of Slovenia following Raboutou, the American put the pressure on with a top for route 1. Garnbret responded with a top of her own. Raboutou, however, was climbing well and again reached the top on her second route. This time the Slovenian couldn’t match her effort.
“I’m really psyched and I’m excited for another climb,” said Raboutou, “I’m excited to turn it up and show what I’ve got.”
Despite sitting first overall, Raboutou knows Garnbret is strong competition; “That would be an understatement. I’m just hoping to climb my best and see what happens. She is pretty next level!”
Garnbret sits fourth overall from the 78 starters. Laura Rogora of Italy is second and Seo Chaehyun of South Korea third, after also topping route 1. Fellow American and 2022 IFSC Boulder World Cup winner Natalia Grossman also topped the second route and made up the top five.
For the women’s Lead qualification full results click here.
The first competitor from the 83 men was Colin Duffy of USA. After taking an historic Lead and Boulder win in Innsbruck, Austria last week, the young climber continued his fine form with yet another top.
Duffy sits second overall, however, as Yurikusa Ao of Japan matched his route 1 top but bettered his second run by one hold. The Japanese climbers were in fine form with Fujii Kokoro and Homma Taisei also reaching the top of route 1 to sit in joint fifth position.
Ogata Yoshiyuki was another Japanese climber to top the first route but like the rest of the climbers struggled a little on Route 2 with no men topping.
“My climbing was really good today, especially the first route,” said Ogata who qualifies in 11th position. “The second wasn’t as good for me, but overall I’m happy. The first step is to make the semi-final and I can climb tomorrow so that’s good.”
For the men’s Lead qualification full results click here.
The top 26 men and women will compete in the semi-finals tomorrow at 10.00 AM (UTC+2:00) before the final eight from each compete for medals at 8:00 PM.
News and updates about the event will also be available on the IFSC website, and on the Federation’s social media channels: Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
