Author: wmra_wp

“Eleven nations took medals at the 27th World Mountain Running Championships in Tirana, Albania on 11th September 2011.
The Albanian LOC were impressive with their marketing and hospitality. The beach resort of Durres provided the &lsquo,athletes village’ and offered cool accommodation in the oppressive heat that many struggled with on race day. Many athletes will reflect on their wonderful experiences with a particularly welcoming host city of Tirana and the volunteer ambassadors that provided and enriching initiation to Albania.
A fabulous welcome from the Albanian President and Minister of Sport was backed up with five hours of live television coverage. Their welcome preceded a professional and entertaining opening ceremony.&nbsp,
The elite mountain runners from across the world were treated to an insight into the culture of Albania and the impressive landscapes it has to offer, which included having the highest average altitude in Europe- perhaps a perfect fitting for the sport of mountain running!”
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Race day saw the full demands of Mountain Running on display as many struggled in the hot and humid conditions on a varied and technically demanding course.
Senior Men’s Race (13.1km, 750m ascent/descent): the early fierce pace was set by four of the Ugandan team as they surged up the first circuit in the top 3 places. It was an experienced contingent as Martin Torotitch had taken silver in 2008 and James Kibet Bronze in 2009, but it was the younger Ugandan Thomas Ayeko who pushed on for most of the race. Always close behind were European legend Ahmet Arslan (TUR) and Max King (USA) as the Italian team packed well but preferred a more steady start in the furnace of the Albanian forest area. As the race progress the Italian team moved up the field as the Ugandan’s started to suffer and slow in the incessant midday heat. It was heat exhaustion that got the better of the prominent leader Ayeko as he ground to a halt less than 1000m from the finish surrendering to the challenging nature of the course combined with the hot cauldron within the forest paths. It was 31 year old, Max King (USA), who finished fastest to win from five times European Champion, Ahmet Arslan (TUR).
Italian twins, Martin and Bernard De Matteis finished 3rd and 4th with Marco De Gasperi backing them up in 5th and Gabriele Abate in 14th, showing Italian strength as they repeated their many previous victories. Turkey were the silver medal winners with France taking the team bronze award.
Senior Women’s Race (8.8km, 500m ascent/descent): the Senior Women’s race was expected to be closely contested and it as was the USA that, again took top honours with Kasie Enman impressing with a 1 minute and 8 second victory. After trying to make the American team for the past five years all of Kasie’s dreams came true on this poignant date of September 11th. Kasie became a first time mum in 2010. Her family were at the event to cheer her to victory. Two of the pre-race favourites took silver and bronze. Russia’s Elena Rukhlyada and European Champion, Marie-Laure Dumerques from France joined Kasie on the podium for silver and bronze respectively.
Italy again showed their strength in depth with positions 7,8 and 9 to take the gold (24 points), Czech Republic took silver (30 points) and Great Britain and Northern Ireland took the bronze team award.
Junior Men’s Race (8.8km, 500m ascent/descent): the Junior Men’s race saw a fast and furious start and particularly by the Turkish team as them attempted to dominate with 4 runners in the top 6 after the first climb. Always to the fore was the Columbian athlete Saul Padua Rodriguez as he bided his time on the first lap. On completing the second circuit the Columbian was forcing the pace and looked to be heading to victory, but the dusty descent saw Turkey’s Adem Karagoz pull away foe a comfortable victory. Third and bronze medallist was&nbsp,Turkish Murat Orak, behind Colombian.&nbsp,Turkey dominated the Team with an impressive 12 points to Poland’s 22 with Italy taking the bronze medals with 32 points.&nbsp,
Junior Women’s Race (4.5km, 250m ascent/descent): Slovenian Lea Einfalt impressed as she took the world title and led her team-mates to Bronze team medals. Turkey and Romanian also made the Podium for individual medallists with Cesminaz Yilmaz taking silver and Denisa Ionela Dragomir for Romania’s only individual medal.&nbsp, Turkey impressed with their team strength with 2nd and 4th places to take the Gold medal team award (6 ponts). Second and silver medal, Romania (11 points) and third and bronze medal Slovenia (14 points)
Attended to the Championships Otto Klappert (Germany) as IAAF Delegate and whole WMRA Council with new Secretary, Bashir Hussain (Great Britain), just appointed during the WMRA Council meeting in Duress, one day before the Championships.
28. WMRA Congress was also held and a lot of important decision were taken: updating of Constitution and of the World Mountain Running Championships rules, most important races in calendar 20112 and 2013 and other aspects for improving always more mountain running&nbsp, were discussed by the over 30 Country’s Delegates.
This Championships was the first world sport event never organized in Albania and this reason is easily to understand that some aspects were difficult, but LOC – fully supported by National Government – tried to do the best and certainly all the participants all present have returned home a memorable Championships

news by Bashir Hussain

photos by Nancy Hobbs, Patrizia Longoand by LOC

on front page:
– Max King (NH)
on second page:
– Salih Berisha and Bruno Gozzelino (LOC)
– podium team senior men (PL)
– Kasie Enman (NH)
– podium team senior women (PL)
– Adem Karagoz (NH)
– Lea Einfalt (PL)
– Berisha during opening ceremony (LOC)

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“Tirana, the capital of mysterious Albania will host the 27th World Mountain Running Championships.
Although Albania is a mountainous country with the highest peak Korab (2764m), the mountain running as sport discipline has just stared to develop in this part of the world.
It is one of the first time, that a country with no Mountain running tradition is hosting the Championships. Even more, in 2011 Albanian runners participated World’s top event for the first time.
It was a great job for the WMRA Delegates, Bruno Gozzelino and Raimondo Balicco to coordinate the work of the LOC that accepted the job with plenty of enthusiasm and energy with the clear goal – to organize a perfect sport event.”
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From logistic point of view the event rather complicated – all the teams will stay in Durres, about 40 km from Tirana, where all the races and ceremonies will be held.
After having some troubles finding the suitable course, the delegate designed the course that fits all WMRA parameters on the margin of the city. The course is a lap course, men will run the 4,5km long lap with 285m elevation gain 3 times, ladies and junior men 2 times and girls once.
35 counties announced participation of more than 300 runners: 131 senior men, 63 senior women, 70 junior men and 51 junior women are untried at the moment!
The junior races are normally unpredictable. 16 and 17 year old runners are handicapped by their age, but eager to show their performances: gold medalists from Youth Challenge 2011 Lea Einfalt from Slovenia and Rafal Matuszczak from Poland and silver medalists from Russia Ekaterina Ivonina and Konstantin Galiullin are the ones who will try to enter the podium. Lea was also 6th last year in Kamnik.
In the junior men’s race Tekle Andemichale will try to defend the title, but will have strong opponents in Turkish runners Dag Sonmez&nbsp, and vice-champion Yildirmici Sabahatin.
Dragomir Denisa Ionela from Romania and Yasemin Can from Turkey, both gold medalist from top international events and experts for fast races, are expected to fight for the highest position in the junior women’s race.
In the ladies division Italian runners are expected to form the peak of the group. Experienced Valentine Belotti (champion 2009, vice champion 2010) and Antonella Confortola-Wyatt are one of the favorites. European champion 2010 Marie-Laure Dumergues from France is also specialist for this type of course. Current leading in the Grand Prix and bronze medalist from Bursa Slovenian Lucija Krkoc also likes up-down courses. Of course there are also always strong British, Turkish and American ladies.
Senior men’s race is always the top race of the Championships. In the last years runners from Eritrea and Uganda were creating the majority of the &quot,top10&quot,. This year Eritrea entered a new team, but there are experienced runners in the Uganda team, James Kibet and Martin Toroitich will not come just to be present. Always strong Italian team with Marco De Gasperi, (every day better) Gabriele Abate and Dematteis twins will not be satisfied only with a team medal. Maybe it is also time for Ahmet Arslan, 5 times European champion, to complete his collection with a medal from World Championships. Mitja Kosovelj, Junior World champion 2003 and the winner of World Long distance Challenge 2011 left out European championships to be ready for Tirana where the course suits him.
TV coverage on live for five hours on National Albania TV is guaranteed by LOC.
The organization of the Championships was possible thanking the extraordinary support given to the event by Albanian Government starting form Prime Minister Salih Berisha who understood – first of all, together Gjergi Ruli, FSHA President, and all his staff in the National Athletic Federation – the importance of this competition for showing worldwide, and specially in Europe, the great potentiality of Albania: this event will useful for each Albanian Citizens because hundred and hundred persons coming from all the part in the world will see – probably for the first time in their life – Albania and certainly will come home with a new good feeling of this Country!
IAAF support to the event was usually very important: German Otto Klappert, Honorary Chairman of IAAF Cross Country Commission will attend to the Championships, together full WMRA Council, with his President, Bruno Gozzelino.
Pierre Weiss, IAAF General Secretary, and Sergey Bubka, IAAF Vice President, personally recomended this event with personal presence in Albania in the past time.
On the day before the event the important Annual WMRA Congress will be held in Duress.
Certainly&nbsp,this Championships seems to be an important step in the history not only of the mountain running but of the athletics and also of the sport!

Bruno Gozzelino and Tomo Sarf by WMRA

Photos:
– front page&nbsp,Salih Berisha, Albanian Prime Minister, met Sergey Bubka, IAAF Vice President,&nbsp,and Bruno Gozzelino, with Gjiergj Ruli, FSHA President and Nikolin Dionisi, FSHA Secretary,
– second page: welcome desk at Tirana airport.

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“Ecuador and Venezuela have won gold medals at the 6. CONSUDATLE Mountain Running Championships which took place in Caracas, in the vicinity of Parque Nacional Warairarepano.
2011 South American mountain running Champions are Pedro Ramos (Ecuador) and Jaimes Mileydis (Venezuela).
Finally four Nations were present at the Championships this year: Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil and Venezuela.
In the future it would be possible to increase the number of Nations involved, specially&nbsp,in case that some National Athletic Federations (like for sample Peru and Chile) would include inside the Federation the atheltic discipline of mountain running.”
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At the end of the 12 km. of the men race, the victory and gold medal&nbsp,was captured by Ecuadorean Pedro Ramos in 1 hour 0 minutes and 4 seconds, followed in second place, by Colombian Jhon Jairo Vargas (silver medallist), arrived at the finish line in 1 hour 0 minutes and 49 seconds, while the Venezuelan Pedro Jos&eacute, Puentes finished third and was bronze medallist in a time of 1 hour 1 minute and 17 seconds.
Behind them, in fourth place came the Venezuelan Neido Guill&eacute,n, which preceded other three&nbsp, countrymen: Rafael Guill&eacute,n, fifth, Pedro Luis Puentes Figueroa, sixth, and Aristides Medina, seventh. In the order are then arrived at the finish line the three members of the Brazilian team: Naval Figueredo de Assi, eighth, Fabio de Oliveira Chagas, ninth, and Israel dos Anjos, tenth.
In women’s race, the Venezuelan Jaimes Mileydis raced the 8 km race in a time of 52 minutes and 9 seconds to win gold medal ahead of fellow countrymen Yaritza Saavedra, silver medal, 53 minutes and 52 seconds and Rosa M&eacute,ndez, bronze medal, in 57 minutes and 24 seconds.
The Venezuela Marisol Palacios was fourth ahead of three Brazilian: Maria Luisa Alves (5.), Luzia Mesquita (6) and Jucimara Dos Santos (7.).
Great success of spectators and interesting text for South American mountain runners like training for next World Mountain Running Championships in Albania on next 11. September 2011.

News by Ricardo G&oacute,mez Chirinos

Photos by LOC:
on front page:
– winner women,
on second page:
– men podium,
– women podium

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On next&nbsp,7. August&nbsp, the&nbsp,6. CONSUDATLE Mountain Running Championships will be in the National Park El Avila of Caracas.
Distance race for women will be 8 km. instead for men the track will be long 12km.
At this moment have confirmed the presence athletes coming from three Nations: Colombia, Brasil and Venezuela, but other entries are&nbsp,expected by LOC.

News by Marcos Oviedo

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“After nearly two weeks of rain in the eastern part of the alps at the Harakiri-weekend the sun was the first winner!
Like the first two years we had a perfect summer-picnic-feeling in Mayrhofen and runners from more than 20 nations who came together to run up the Mount Penken.
Exactly after 50 minutes and 0 seconds, Silver Medallist from the last World Mountain Running Championships, Azarya Weldemariam, from Eritrea, touched the tape at the finish-line after a really hard fight 23 seconds before the recently crowned five-time European Mountain Running Champion, Ahmet Arslan from Turkey. ”
“These two guys were followed by the two Kenian runners Geoffey Gikuni Ndungu (51 minutes and 20 seconds) and Issac Kosgei (51 minutes and 45 seconds) and &bdquo,the legend&quot, Jonathan Wyatt from New Zealand (52 minutes and 25 seconds).
Best Austrian Runner in Mayrhofen was once again Simon Lechleitner at the 9th place in 54:31 min nearly&nbsp,one minute in front of the actual Austrian Champion, Alexander Rieder, who finished on the 10th place in 55:22 min.
At the womens race, we had the revenge oft he European Championships and again Antonella Confortola (1 hour 2 minutes and 50 seconds) was in front of Lucija Krkoc from Slovenja (1 hour 3 minutes and 32 seconds) and short before the German Master Lisa Reisinger (1 hour 3 minutes and 58 seconds).
The female winner of the last year Brandy Erholtz from the United States finished on 4th place in 1 hour 5 minutes and 2 seconds followed by the best Austrian female Susanne Mair in 1 hour 5 minutes and 34 seconds.
WMRA Council member Tomo Sarf attended to the race.
Latest Grand Prix standings show&nbsp, that Ahmet Arslan (Turkey) and David Schneider (Switzerland) now share the lead in the mens’ event with 185 points. Lucija Krkoc still leads the womens’ Grand Prix with 285 points ahead of Emma Clayton of Great Britain (180 points).
As many of the top runners start to peak with the World Championships just 6 weeks away the Grand Prix standings are starting to take shape with the world’s finest mountain runners winning and winding their way to the top of the WMRA Grand Prix.
The 5. Grand Prix event now moves on to Tirana in&nbsp, Albania on 11th&nbsp, September which is also 27. World Mountain Running&nbsp, Championships.
See results www.mayrhofen-harakiri.com

News by Andrea Tomaselli (LOC)

Photos by Franz Zierler (LOC):
in front page: podium men,
in second page: podium women.
“

“The Harakiri Mountain run continues to grow and has an excellent international field assembled in the 3rd running of this event in Mayrhofen, Austria.
The runners will have 1170 m of climbing over 10.4 km of uphill running and finish at a height of 1.775m.
As the starting shot on next Sunday morning, the field is assembling into perhaps the finest of the year so far.
There are already 40 top seeded runners registered which include many of the finest Mountain Running athletes in the world, With 20 different nations represented, this is a fine testament to the spirit of the WMRA Grand Prix. ”
“The Men’s list is headed by recently crowned 5-time European Mountain Running Champion Ahmet Arslan from Turkey. Arslan will be tested by Mountain running legend Jonathan Wyatt (New Zealand) and Eritrean Silver Medallist from the World Mountain Running Championships, Azarya Weldemarian.
With other prominent runners in the field such as Geoffrey Ndungu and Isaac Kosge (Kenya), Robert Krupicka from the Czech Republic, Anders Kleist (Sweden) and Mitja Kosovejl (Slovenia) it will be a fierce battle on the mountains of Mount Penken in Mayrhofen.
Also featuring is Austrian National Champion, Alexander Rieder, along with Timo Zeiler (Germany), Markus Kr&ouml,ll (Austria) and Simon Lechleitner (Austria)
The women’s race also promises to field many of the finest female Mountain Runners with 2011 European silver medalist Antonella Confortola (Italy) heading the starters. Close rival and current Grand prix leader Lucija Krkoc (Slovenia) is also on the entry list. 2010 winner Brandy Erholtz (USA) and Emma Clayton (Great Britain and Northern Ireland) are also expected to feature highly. Others who may feature include Lauren Jeska (Great Britain and Northern Ireland), Denisa Dragomir (Romania), Lisa Reisinger (Germany) and Matea Kosovelj (Slovenia).
While the field is clearly outstanding on an elite level there will be many other runners who will also take to the Mountains to complete this unique event. The organizers look forward to welcoming all of the runners entered to enjoy the mountains around Mayrhofen on Sunday morning.
For the latest information and course information see Website link: http://www.mayrhofen-harakiri.com/

News by Basahir Hussain and LOC

Photos by LOC:
in front page: start of race 2010
in second page: Markus Kroll”

“The 13th edition of&nbsp, &lsquo,Gorski tek na Grintovec’ in Kamnik (SLO) uphill mountain challenge took place on Sunday 24th July 2011 in difficult conditions: for safety reasons the course was altered to protect the runners from severe weather on this exhausting course.
The organizer used the alternative course, actually just first 2/3 of the classic course, with still respectable 1200m elevation gain in just 6,0km and finish at &quot,safe altitude&quot, 1800m.
Stormy weather reduced the number of preliminary entered runners to half, but those determined to finish the tough course: they were coming from 13 countries. ”
“

Ahmed Arslan&nbsp, (TUR) was the expected winner of the men’s race in a time of 42:50 well ahead of the new WMRA Grand Prix leader David Schneider (44:26) in 2nd place.
Czech republic runner Robert Krupi&#269,ka was 3rd with Great Britain’s Orlando Edwards in 4th position.
The top Slovenian runner was Nejc Kuhar. David Schneider now has 200 points after 3 races in the WMRA Grand Prix.
The Women’s race also had a dominant winner in Lucija Krko&#269, from Slovenia (55:31) who was over 3 minutes ahead in winning this 3rd Grand Prix race. Lucija Krko&#269, is the new leader (200 points) of the women’s Grand Prix, which takes the best 4 races from a possible 6.
The WMRA must thank the local organizing committee who put on another wonderful event following on from last years’ world championship race, but in severe conditions that threatened the safety of the runners.
The 4th Grand Prix event moves on to Austria next Sunday on 31. July in Mayrhofen Harakiri Run.

News by Bashir Hussain and Tomo Sarf&nbsp,

Photos by LOC
In the front page: Lucj&#305,a Krkoc
In second page: Ahmed Arslan

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After the EA and NACAC Mountain Running Championships, about 250 runners have entered the race 13. Gorski tek na Grintovec in Kamnik, third stage of 13. WMRA Grand Prix 2011.
Present top runners in the men race: Arslan, Schneider, Kosovelj and Krupicka (winner of the race in 2009).
Present top runners in the women race Lucija Krkoc and Denisa Dragomer (who is twice Junior European Champion 2010 and 2011).

”

The best top mountain runners will try to attack the course records: in particular it will be possible that Lucija Krkoc and Ahmet Arslan will run faster then the current records that are at the moment: 1:15:43 by Jonathan Wyatt (2006) and 1.31:50 by Anna Pichrtova (2006).
The Eritreans athletes announced their presence but they did not confirm their arrival.
The weather forecast is promising not too hot weather.
The details of traditional course are: distance 9,6km, 1.980 mt. elevation gain, taught. This is a real mountain race, of course.
Last year the race was not held because in Kamnik was organised the WMRA World Mountain Running Championships, so this year the traditional race start on again!
LOC staff is ready to host this competition and most of them are the same persons who organised the World Mountain Running Championships 2010 in Kamnik starting form the Chairman of LOC, Dusan Papez.
WMRA Council member Tomo Sarf will attend to the competition.

News by Bruno Gozzelino

Photo by Tomo Sarf
in front page: 2009: Kupricka winner in this year&nbsp,with Course record holder Wyatt with Chairman of LOC Dusan Papez

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In Aijijc, Mexico, American runner, Joe Gray, won 8. NACAC Mountain Running Championships 2011 in the men category with new record of the race.
Second and silver medallist&nbsp,was Ranulfo Sanchez,&nbsp,Mexican runner, and third and bronze medallist was James Gosselin,&nbsp,Canadian runner.

”
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In the team standing, Canadian Team men (third, fourth and sixth) won gold medal in front of host Country team Mexico
(second, fifth and seventh) just for one point: 13 points for Canada ahead Mexico with 14 points.
Bronze medallist was USA team. with 26 points.
Time of the men winner was 1 hour 16 minutes and 44 seconds, the second finished his race in 1 hour 19 minutes and 06 seconds whilst third at the finish arrived in 1 hour 21 minutes and 20 seconds.&nbsp,
In the women race USA runner gained all the medals with Maria Dalzot, gold, who finished her race in the time of 1 hour 47 minutes and 04 seconds, Christian Lundy, silver, arrived with the time of 1 hour 48 minutes and 05 seconds whilst Amber Moran, bronze., arrived in 1 hour 51 minutes and 29 seconds.
Of course, USA women team was NACAC Champion team 2011 in front of Mexican team, second.&nbsp,

News by Bruno Gozzelino

Photos by Nancy Hobbs
in front page: podium men team
in second page:
– man winner,
– woman winner,
– podium women team&nbsp,”

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The 8. NACAC Mountain Running Championships 2011 will be held in Ajijic, Jalisco, Mexico on next July 17. in conjunction with Carrera de La Chupinaya.
The race is a one loop 13.8 Km. course that starts at 1.550 mt.
The course climbs up to 2.625 mt, before descending back to the start.
The first mile of the course is on road, then goes onto single track trail.
Ajijic is about 55 km. from Guadalajara.
Team from USA, Canada and Mexico, will be present.

”

Record of the men race is held by Ricardo Mej&iacute,a in 1 hour 19 minutes 45 seconds ob 2001, instead for the women race the record is held by Mariana Valencia in 1 hour 47 second 40 seconds.
The race will be also selection race for National Team in preparation of the World Mountain Running Championships 2011 in Albania.

News by Bruno Gozzelino