Author: wmra_wp

“Ugandan, Geofrey Kosuro, and Nigerian, Dung Janet, are African Champion 2011, leading their Nation to win African title in the Team list.
But, at Obudu, this year, not only the athletes were in first row, but also the LOC, with its Chairman William Archibong, and the AFN, with the Vice President, Engr. Ibrahim Shehu Gusau, General Secretary, Maria Wophil, and other Council member as Gloria Obajimi, that – with the fantastic support of the highest political authorities of Nigeria from the Governor of Cross River State, &nbsp,Sen. Liyel Imoke CON – have officially announced the candidature to organize the 30. World Mountain Running Championships in 2014 on the occasion of the tenth edition of the race, in presence of WMRA President, Bruno Gozzelino, and WMRA Council member, Erhan Basoglu,&nbsp,present in Nigeria also for preparing for 2012 a new track of the Obudu race, respecting WMRA technical regulations.
Coming back to the races, in the men African Championships, Geofrey Kosuro (finishing fourth in the overall list of the Obudu International race, behind three Ethiopian runners) defeated Kenyan, Ondara Macdonald, silver medallist (and fifth in the Obudu race), and his nationl fellow, Thomas Ayeko, bronze medallist (eight in the Obudu race, after Kenyan, Romo Philemon, and Ethiopian, Abshero Ayele). Five time European Champion, Turkish Ahmet Arslan finished in 18 place, after having arrived to the venue of the competition just few hours before the race,&nbsp,due a long journey. Uganda men team took gold medal in front of Eritrea, silver, and Nigeria, bronze, instead Egypt finished in fourth position.
In the women African Championship only Nigerian runners were officially untried by the National Athletic Federation: so the winner arrived in front of her countrywomen Nancy Mathew (silver), Aderonke Olumudi (bronze) and Deborah Pam, fourth. In the women team&nbsp, list no other Countries sent official team despite the fact that Ethiopian and Kenyan runners were present in the race, taking the first six places in the Obudu race.”
“At the 7. edition of the Obudu International Mountain Race 2011, Ethiopian male runners made a clean sweep of top cash prizes.
For the third year running, Ethiopia has won the race, but this time it was through 22 year old Mesfin Hunegnaewai who brushed aside the challenge of 135 other male runners and crossed the finishing line in a record time of 41.50. His compatriots Atsedy Tsegay and Azmeraw Beke came second and third with the time of 42.12 minutes and 42.30 minutes respectively.
In the female category the Ethiopians also dominated winning the race with second another Ethiopian, while Kenyan runner was third at the finish the lane. For this category, it was 18 years old Yalew Genet of Ethiopia who came first after outrunning 34 others to win with the time of 48.45 minutes while Ayelewu Wuda Yimer, also of Ethiopia, placed second by returning a time of 49.10 minutes to beat Margaret Wangari of Kenya, who placed third.
The cash prize for the runners in the male and female category was the same as each of the gold medallists got $50,000, silver medallists $20,000, and bronze medallists $9,000.
Genet said the standard athletes that participated were very high, just as the organisation of the competition was of international standard.
136 international athletes men and 34 women participated in the race which attracted large number of spectators.

Edited by Bruno Gozzelino (WMRA)

Photos by Patrick Ugbe
– in front page, Mesfin Hunegnaewai,
– in second page, Yalew Genet “

“The IAAF, AAC&nbsp,and WMRA sanctioned Obudu International Mountain Race takes place on Monday 28th November 2011.
The African Mountain Running Championships will also feature in the Obudu International Mountain Race in Nigeria.
This is sure to be an exciting event as many of the African runners have succeeded at the World Championships previously.
There are athletes of 6 different nation registered in men’s event (Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Egypt) and three in the women’s race (Kenya, Ethiopia and Nigeria), plus other athletes from other African Countries as for sample Cameroon and Ghana.
According to the Secretary General of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Mrs. Maria Worphil, more African nations are making inquiries about travel and accommodation arrangements and expect more confirmations this week.
”
“

&quot,Athletics Nigeria is delighted with the response shown by African nations for this championship.
&quot,Last year we had six nations in the men event and five in the women including the host nation, Nigeria and we are already convinced we will have more African nations this time around as we strive to make mountain running a perennial fixture in the calendar of the African Athletics Confederation,&quot, said Worphil, a former national handball star.
Ethiopia, winner of the inaugural edition of the championship tops the list of other nations who have made inquiries about the championships and Mrs. Worphil is full of praise for Cross River Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke for providing the platform to host the rest of Africa
&quot,Our sincere thanks to Governor Imoke for not only continuing with the sponsorship of the Obudu international mountain race started by his predecessor, Donald Duke but for also expanding the scope of the event by including the African Nations mountain running championship.
&quot,The AFN will continue to organize a perfect competition and make Nigeria proud,&quot, she added.
Abebe Dinkesa from Ethiopia returns to defend his title from 2010 but Ondara MacDonald from Kenya is expected to feature highly having placed 6th in 2010. With European Champion Ahmed Arslan (Turkey) also in the field the event should be an outstanding spectacle of mountain running.
The women’s event see Nigeria’s top female runner for the last two years, Janet Dung returning to challenge for the event she won in 2009. Genet Yalew from Ethiopia may well prove to be the strongest challenger having taken 3rd place in 2010.
The WMRA are working with the LOC, NAF and AAC in preparation of a potential candidature for World Championships in 2014.&nbsp,LOC are waiting for the presence of AAC President, Hamad Kalkaba Malboum,and of NAF President, Chief Solomon Ogba.
WMRA President, Bruno Gozzelino, congratulated the governor of Cross River state, Senator Liyel Imoke who was conferred with the&nbsp, Commander of the Niger (CON) award&nbsp, by President Goodluck Jonathan early in week in Abuja.
Besides WMRA President, Bruno Gozzelino, thanked a lot William Archibong who is the chairperson of LOC, the person that coordinated very well all the work of LOC and have the capacity for staging next world event in future in this wonderful part of Nigeria.
The WMRA President Bruno Gozzelino and the WMRA Council member Erhan Basoglu will be present to witness further developments in mountain running.
More news also on http://athleticsnigeria.org/afn/aggregator/categories/2

Bruno Gozzelino and Bashir Hussainfor WMRA

Photos&nbsp,
by LOC:
– in front page: Abebe Dinkesa, winner 2010
– in second page: from left to right: William Archibong (Chief of LOC), Lionel Imoke (Governor of Cross River State) and Bruno Gozzelino (WMRA President),

by Patrizia Longo
– Hamad Kalkaba Malboum (AAC President) and Bruno Gozzelino (WMRA President) at IAAF Gal&agrave, 2011

“

“The Federacao Portuguesa de Atletismo has imposed the sanction for a first offence of two (2) years ineligibity from 11.8.2011 until 10.08.2013 and disqualification of all results since and including 10.07.2011 to the male athlete Jose Manuel Goncalves &quot,Gaspar&quot,.
This decision was taken following an in-competition doping control conducted on 10.07.2011 during the 10. European Mountain Running Championships 2011, in Bursa, Turkey.
Jose Manuel Goncalves &quot,Gaspar&quot, finished third in the senior men race and Portugal team was third in the team result.
”
Following this decision, the result of this competition must be amended and the new result in 10. European Mountain Running Championships 2011 for senior men category is amended like follows:
Senior men – Individual
1. Ahmet ARSLAN&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,TUR&nbsp,&nbsp,58.08
2. Gabriele ABATE&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,ITA&nbsp,&nbsp,58.40
3. Bernard DEMATTEIS&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,ITA&nbsp,&nbsp,59.41
… Jose Manuel GONCALVES&nbsp,&nbsp,POR&nbsp,&nbsp,DQ IAAF Rule 32.2.a
Senior men – Team
1. Italy&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,ITA&nbsp,&nbsp,10 pts
2. Turkey&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,TUR&nbsp,&nbsp,32 pts
3. France&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,FRA&nbsp,&nbsp,36 pts
4. Portugal&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,POR&nbsp,&nbsp,49 pts
The total points of the remaining teams shall be reduced by 3 points according to the updated individual positions, but no any change there is in their position.
The French team which won the bronze medal was formed by Georges Burrier, Said Jandari, Didier Zago and Julien Rancon.
So the medal table is changed but always nine countries won medals at the 10. European Mountain Running Championships in Bursa, Turkey, in which 26 countries took part: in fact France replaced Portugal in the medal table.
The host nation Turkey won nine medals in total (four gold, three silver, two bronze) and&nbsp, Italy were next with six medals (two gold, two silver, two bronze): Then Romania (one gold, one silver) and Switzerland (one gold and one bronze) followed with two medals each.&nbsp, The other countries on the podium where Russia and Czech Republic with one silver each, then Austria, France and Slovenia with one bronze each.
EA will arrange the procedure for handing over of the medals to new winners.

News printed by Bruno Gozzelino (WMRA)

“The mountain running season is going on the end: one the traditional mountain races is the Trofeo Vanoni, on the most ancient race in Italy, held this year on last 23. October.
After the junior races in the morning with more than 320 young runners, the start of the ladies individual race (5 km). Wonderful race for Alice Gaggi (Italy – G.S. Valgerola): after passing in 4. position at the end of the uphill, she ran very, very fast downhill, overtaking Eva Skalnikova and Pippa Maddams, Long Distance M. R. Champion 2011. Triumphant runway for Gaggi (9. at World Championship in Tirana) who won in 22’37&quot,. Second position for Eva Skalnikova (Ceck Republic) in 22’50&quot, and third Pippa Maddams (Great Britain – Snowdon Race Team) in 22’52&quot,.
Exciting the relay race: after the first lap with an incredible Alex Baldaccini (best time with 29’03&quot, and second best time in the history of the race), the three leading teams at the end of second lap were La Recastello Radici Group, Slovenia and G.S. Orobie. ”
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Only in the third and last lap the local runner Francesco Della Torre (Italy – G.S. Orobie) overtook Danilo Bosio (Italy – La Recastello Radici Group), whilst the Slovenian team lose ground. G.S. Orobie, for the first time, wins the Trofeo Vanoni. Second place for the British team with Robbie Simpson who overtook La Recastello few meters before finish line.
The best individual times were 1. Alex Baldaccini (Italy – G.S. Orobie) 29’03&quot,, 2. Mitja Kosovelj (Slovenia) 29’14&quot, and 3. Nicola Golinelli (Italy – ASD Ger Rancio) 29’56&quot,.
As usual the Trofeo Vanoni is the last big race of the calendar. Totally more than 800&nbsp, runners in Morbegno took part to this sport event.
An audience of thousands were all over the track watching the race and a lot of authorities attended the prize giving ceremony: Bruno Gozzelino (WMRA President), Raimondo Balicco (WMRA Council member and Coach of mountain running Italian national team), Pierluigi Migliorini (FIDAL National Council member), Bruno Gianatti and Alberto Rampa (both from regional and local FIDAL), Alba Rapella (Major of Morbegno), Alberto Pasina (Valtellina Council).
To the winner team a special cup in memory of Captain Massimo Ranzani, military dead in Afghanistan during a peacekeeping mission and the Vanoni Trophy donated by Morbegno Town.
The winners of the international criterium under 23 are the italians Luca Cagnati (Polisportiva Caprioli San Vito) and Sara Bottarelli (Atletica Valtrompia)
Appointment for the next year at the 55th Trofeo Vanoni which will be held on 21. October 2012.
Trofeo Vanoni Highlights on the web tv: www.teleunica.tv.
Photos, video and race results on: www.gscsimorbegno.org

news by Cristina Speziale (LOC)

photos by Sergio Rocca (www.pizzoscalino.it):
– on front page: winner relay men (Della Torre) and winner women (Gaggi)
– on second page:
– relay G. S. Orobie winning team men,
– start men race.&nbsp,

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On 1. October 2011, the steeply slopes on the Ljubljana suburbs once again hosted the Smarna gora race that was this year organized for the 32. time and was also WMRA Grand Prix Finals.
In ideal weather conditions more than 200 competitors from 12 countries competed on 10 kilometers long course which has been changed last year making it a bit longer and less dangerous.
This year’s novelties were prizes for the best in children competition. The organizer decided to cheer them up with giant chocolates weighting 7 kilograms/more then 15 pounds – some of the children were even to small to carry the sweet prize from the stage!

”
“The final race in the 2011 WMRA Grand Prix was represented by many of the best Mountain runners in the world in this event in Slovenia under the expert direction of Tomo Sarf and the support of the LOC.
Turkish Ahmet Arslan started fast and persisted in pushing his way to the top of the podium on the day and to the Overall title of WMRA Grand prix winner for 2011.
There was an exciting tussle for the minor medals on the podium, but at the same time competitors were calculating their likely overall placings’ in the Grand Prix event.
Second on the day and second overall was Switzerland’s David Schneider who was just 9 seconds ahead of Gabriele Abate (ITA) who also took overall third. With Slovenia World title holder Mitja Kosovelj taking fifth place just behind Adam Kovacs (HUN) on the day there was ample high quality racing for the spectators to enjoy.
However it was in the women’s race that Slovenia had much more to celebrate on the day as Lucija Krko&#269, (SLO) took a comfortable 26 second victory from Antonella Confortola (ITA) with Pavla Schorna&nbsp, (CZE) in third place.
The overall standings were similar as Lucija Krko&#269, (SLO) took the title of 2011 WMRA Grand Prix Winner, over 70 points ahead of Antonela Confortola (ITA) with Emma Clayton (GBR) in third place.
2012 looks like an exciting year for World Mountain running with Junior world Champion Lea Einfalt (SLO) mixing with the best seniors to take sixth place overall and many of the top 10 women being close to the age of 23.

News by Bashir Hussain and Tomo Sarf.

Photos by LOC:
– in front page: Arslan and Krkoc G.P. winners 2011,
in second page:
– Arslan,
– Krkoc.”

“The International Smarna Gora Mountain Running Race remains one of the highlights of the mountain running season.
In the autumn and fall season of 1979 running enthusiasts from Ljubljana decided to organize a race to the one of the most popular mountains in Slovenia at Smarna Gora.
Nobody envisaged that it would become such a massive event with worldwide popularity that is again the final leg of the WMRA Grand Prix for 2011.
The WMRA Grand Prix Champions of the world will again be crowned on Saturday 1. October at this magnificent mountain peak.”
“

In the early 90′ the event was the first national championships in the new nation of Slovenia and later that decade, World champion Lucio Fregona (ITA) made the Smarna Gora an internationally recognized event.
After the millennium, the Smarna Gora race became one of the founding members of the WMRA Grand Prix and since than it has been the final GP event on nine occasions.
In the last 32 years many World medallists have tested the demanding course, that takes the runners 360m uphill to the first summit followed by 300m of technical descent before a 300m uphill haul to the finish. The best men need no more than 40 minutes for 10 km long course.
This Saturday the best mountain runners will again meet to test their strength, speed and skills. This will be the first meeting after the World Championships and many will strive to climb the famous podium at Smarna Gora.
Lucija Krkoc (SLO) leads the WMRA Grand prix at present and will look for her third victory this year in the Grand Prix.
This will be a tall order, as the top female runners will include World Championship fourth finisher Pavla Schorna (CZE) and Mateja Kosovelj (SLO) who took sixth place.
The 8., 9. and 10. finishers from the World Championships in the form of Antonela Confortola-Wyatt (ITA), Alice Gaggi (ITA) and Emma Clayton (GBR) will pose a threat.
Junior World Champion, Lea Eifalt (SLO) is expected to feature at some stage of this wonderful festival of mountain running in Slovenia.
In the Men’s event, European Champion, Ahmet Arslan (TUR), the silver medallist at the World Championships in Albania returns to defend his Smarna Gora title from 2010 and again looks to repeat his overall WMRA Grand Prix win. Mitja Kosovelj (SLO) will be well placed to offer a strong challenge having won the 2011 World Long distance MR Challenge this summer.
Other world class male Mountain runners on show include 2011 European silver medallist Gabriel Abate (ITA), 2005 race winner Robert Krupicka (CZE) and Adam Kovacs (HUN) who was ninth in the Albanian World Championships race along with Antonio Toninelli (ITA) the race winner in 2009.
David Schneider (SUI), Orlando Edwards (GBR) and Alex Baldaccini (ITA) should also be in the mix.

Tomo &Scaron,arf for WMRA

Photos by LOC:
– in front page Arslan winner last year,
– in second page Mateja Kosovelj

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“Runners of thirteen members of Commonwealth started to the 2. Commonwealth Mountain Running Championships in North Wales, exactly in Llamberis, well know venue for international mountain running events: England, Scotland, Kenya, Australia, Malawi, Canada, New Zealand, Isle of Man, Northern Ireland, Sierra Leone, Republic of South Africa, Gambia and, host Country, Wales.
Conditions for the race saw rain and mist veil Moel Eilio, in the shadow of Snowdon.”
“

In the women’s race, after a superb fifth place run at the recent World Mountain Championships in Albania earlier this month Lizzie Adams started favourite.
After a furious start on the initial road section as the female runners approached the mountain, Olivia Walwyn-Bush led English team mates Sarah Tunstall and Adams. Mary Wilkinson was tucked in behind, with Victoria Wilkinson in fifth.
But as the race turned onto the steep part of the course Brindley started to scythe her way through the front group, so much so that she led the race as they started the descent off the mountain and head back down to Llanberis. However, 25-year-old Hallamshire runner Adams was not to be denied as she passed and then held off Scotland’s Tracey Brindley to win by a clear 19 seconds.
&quot,This is the first major title I’ve won and it was nice to win it here. I lived in Llandrindod Wells when I was younger and I’ve been to the Snowdon area before,&quot, said an exuberant Adams.&nbsp,&quot,It was pretty tough, but very enjoyable. The weather made it wet and that made it tricky at the start&quot, and concluded, &quot,England have got a really strong team and it was great to add gold to the bronze we won in Albania. Now I will concentrate on the cross-country season and hopefully make it to the European Mountain Championships next year.&quot,
The next four places were occupied by English athletes – Mary Wilkinson, Olivia Walwyn-Bush, Victoria Wilkinson and Sarah Tunstall – with Scotland’s Catriona Buchanan taking seventh. Eight place for the Kenyan, Vivian Kiplagat.
That enabled the English team to&nbsp,take&nbsp, gold. Lizzie Adams and Mary Wilkinson won a Bronze Medal as part of the Great Britain and Northern Ireland Team at the World Championships in Tirana. The Scottish team taking silver. Jackie Lee ran a strong race in 9. for Wales and was backed up by Anna Barlett in 11. place, meaning that Emma Bayliss’ ensured the bronze for Wales, in front of the following teams: 4. Australia, 5. Canada and 6 Northern Ireland.
In the men’s race, James McMullan was obviously inspired by Adams’s success as he battled from fourth to first to hold off the strong Scottish challenge offered by young Scot, and former Snowdon Race winner Robbie Simpson.
The early leader had been Scottish Joe Symonds. McMullan was tucked in behind in third place at the point that they started the hard grind up to the Trwyn on Moel Eilio. Coming through after a steady start was Robbie Simpson, and with his superb technical skills he was going to be a threat in the second half of the race.
As they started the descent after the second loop McMullan pushed on and after a strong 22. place at the World Championships recently, the Englishman’s form and basic speed told as he entered the finish area with a clear 17 second margin.
Simpson took an excellent silver medal with Symonds in third. That meant both countries were tied on 16 points for the team title, but Smith’s eight place (third scoring English better then third scoring of Scotland: Anthony 11.) meant England retained their Commonwealth title on count back.
Third place in the team result for Wales with other four teams in the final result: 4. Australia, 5. Canada, 6. Isle of Man and 7. Northern Ireland.
It must be&nbsp,underlined the fourth place of Francis Khanje, from Malawi.
Bruno Gozzelino, WMRA President, and Bashir Hussain, WMRA Secretary, attended to the competition and both congratulated LOC and Welsh Athletic for the organisation of the races.

News by Matt Ward and Bruno Gozzelino

Photos by Patrizia Longo:
– on front page: Adams together Bruno Gozzelino. On right Alan Barlow.
– on second page: McMullan together Bruno Gozzelino

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“The 2. Commonwealth Mountain and Ultra distance Running Championships will be hosted in three spectacular north-west Wales locations – Llandudno, Llanberis (Snowdon) and Newborough Forest, Anglesey.
The combined events of mountain races (Up &amp, Down), ultra-distance races (24 hr event) and trail running (50+km off road) for both men and women will produce a long weekend international festival of running.
The Mountain of Snowdon will form a wonderful backdrop for all of the events being held in North Wales this weekend.
The festival of sport will also host many open events for supporters to enjoy just prior to the major championship races.
Welsh Athletics and the Local Organizing Committee have made excellent preparations to welcome the finest Ultra and Extreme endurance runners from across the Commonwealth Countries. ”
“The full athlete line-up (see Link International Teams) has been announced and the fields look impressive as we expect many new Commonwealth champions to top the podium this weekend. England, Scotland, New Zealand and Canada were the dominant Mountain running teams in 2009 and these teams are again expected to feature highly as 14 different countries contest the 2. Commonwealth Mountain Running Championships from 2 p.m. on Saturday 24. September.&nbsp,
The men’s race looks open although African runners have a tendency to enjoy uphill running and Geoffery Tum is the only male runner from Kenya. He will be given due respect when he toes the line on Saturday afternoon as it was fellow Kenyan Wilson Chemweno who took the Top Mountain Running title ahead of Jonathan Wyatt and Adam Grice 2 years ago.
England send the in-form James McMullen and Tom Cornthwaite to test the best of the rest, while Scotland’s young Robbie Simpson will look to replicate his amazing run when he won the Senior Snowdon race at the age of 18 in 2010.
This year has seen Robbie Simpson also take individual Bronze in the World Long Distance Challenge in Slovenia.
Lloyd Taggart from the Isle of Man is the current English Hill Running Champion, which augurs well for small island podium possibilities.
Rob Samuel knows the course better than any as he runs for Llanberis and Welsh national team. He will be carrying the home nation hopes along with 27minute Olympic 10km runner Andres Jones and the former British Champion Tim Davies. Australia has medaled at previous World Championships and they are a great sporting nation so again they will be pushing for the podium in many of the weekend events.
Individual Silver medalist from 2009 Sarah Tunstall (England) returns to international competition with recent wins in both Telfes and the Swiss Matterhorn race.
With 5. placed Lizzie Adams (England) from the recent World Championships on the start line England will be expected to defend the team title they won in 2009.
Victoria Wilkinson was also a team Gold medalist in 2009 and will expect at least one gold medal this weekend having beaten most of the field previously.
Again Kenya and Australasian will be expected to sustain strong challenges to the English team along with Scotland who have often topped the podium at the Snowdon International Mountain race.
The Mountain Running events will look to crown new individual champions, as none of the defending champions are listed in the 2011entries.
WMRA will be present with its President Bruno Gozzelino and its Secretary, Bashir Hussain, who thank very much Norman Wilson for his great job in this matters.

News and photo by Bashir Hussain

Photos:
– on front page: Lizzie Adams,
– on second page: Victoria Wilkinson”

“The eleventh edition of the WMRA/WMA World Masters Mountain Running Championships was an other important moment for mountain running of this wonderful 2011.
872 athletes started in this Championships and this show to everybody that this event was a great success!
About thirty Countries were present at the Championships.”
“The following six Champion 2011 confirmed their World Champion title won last year in Poland: Georg Gross (GER-M70), Bruno Baggia (ITA-M75), Ivana Sekyrova (CZE-W35), Blanka Paulu (CZE-W55), Marianne Spronk (GER-W60), Maria Marcibalova (SVK-W75), instead new champion in 2011 are: Massimo Galliano (ITA-M35), Antonio Molinari (ITA-M40), Craig Roberts (ENG-M45), Claudio Amati (ITA-M50), Leonid Tikhonov (RUS-M55), Aurelio Moscato (ITA-M60), Alfred Fruet (ITA-M65), Maria Pia Chemello (ITA-W40), Tracey Jayne Greenway (ENG-W45), Mags Greenan (IRL-W50), Charlotte Plener (GER-W65), Barbel Berghaus (GER-W70),
In the team ital won 10 gold medals and onyl Germany was able to defeat Italy in two categories (W50 and W60) winning two gold medals.
In total the 11. World Master World Mountain Running Championships 2011 was a triumph for Italian runners who won 38 medals (17 gold, 12 silver and 9 bronze) in front of Germany with 17 medals (7 gold, 4 silver and 6 bronze), followed by England with 7 medals (2 gold, 2 silver and 3 bronze), Czech rep. with 8 (2 gold, 4 silver and 2 bronze), Slovakia with 2 medals (1 gold and 1 silver) and Russia that won 1 gold medal. Other Countries without obtaining titles won medals like Ireland with 3 silver and 3 bronze, Norway with 1 silver and Ukraine and USA with 1 bronze each. So in total ten Countries had athletes on the podium.
At the evening, a &quot,closing ceremony&quot, concluded the Championships.
Winners were awarded by authorities: Manuela Di Centa IOC Honorary Life member and Olympic and World Champion, Giorgio Di Centa, Olympic champion, Emilio Felluga, president of CONI Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, Elio De Anna, regional minister of the sport of Friuli Venezia Giulia, Bruno Gozzelino, WMRA president, Brian Keaveney, WMA vice president, Ferdinando Di Centa, vicepresident of the local organizing committee, Pierluigi Migliorini, from FIDAL council, Elia Vezzi, mayor of Paluzza.
The flag of &quot,WMRA&quot, was lowered and given to the delegation, lead by the Mayor of B&uuml,hlertal (Germany), where the next 12. edition of WMRA/WMA World Masters Mountain Running Championships&quot, will be held on Saturday May 19, 2012.
List rankings in the webpage of the event are available on this following webpage address: http://www.fidalfvg.it/

news by LOC and Bruno Gozzelino

photos by Solero:
– start of M45-M50
– Manuela Di Centa
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“1015 master athletes will arrive from 26 Nations around the world, in Paluzza, for 11. World Master Mountain Running Championships 2011: the village of Paluzza looks like a construction site in a rush.
11. World Masters Mountain Running Championship 2011 is starting in Paluzza, the village in the North eastern part of Italy, close to Udine, on next Saturday 17. September.
LOC hopes that the record of the entries could make possible that the higher number of runners that the &quot,World Masters Mountain Running Championships&quot, have ever had could be present.”
“

The race will take place, starting from the main square of the village and then along the winding forest paths that surround it. The first &quot,start&quot, will be given at 9.45 on Saturday.
Meanwhile, volunteers are setting the stage and a big screen, for the opening ceremony, in &quot,XXI-XXII Luglio&quot, square. Close to it, Palazzo Cesfam will serve as an information point and a gathering point for the athletes that have to confirm their registration.
Furthermore, more than a thousand &quot,race packs&quot, will be distributed. There will be other two tents: one for the storage of luggage and personal effects of each athlete and one as a canteen.
For all these operations – coordinated by the local organizing committee, which has its operational office in the municipality of Paluzza – 200 volunteers are still working.
On 13. September, Brian Keaveney, Vice President of &quot,World Masters Athletics&quot,, arrived in Paluzza, from Canada. Keaveney said that he was &quot,enchanted by beautiful landscapes and by the pure environment of the valley&quot,, and praised the work of the local committee. Bruno Gozzelino, WMRA President, and Raimondo Balicco, WMRA Council member and WMRA delegate for the event, will arrive in the next days.
A delegation from Buhlertal (Germany) – where the 12. World Master Mountain Running 2012 will be held on 19. May 2012 – will be present at the event and also the LOC of Jansk&eacute, L&aacute,zn&eacute, (Czech Republic) where there will be the 13. World Master Mountain Running Championships on 31. August 2013 will arrive in paluzza for stating in the promotion of the event.

News by LOC

Photos by LOC
– Korbielow (POL): LOC Paluzza receive WMRA flag,
– Raimondo Balicco, Elia Vezzi, Bruno Gozzelino, Andrea Di Centa and Domenico Salvi&nbsp,

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