Author: wmra_wp

“Turkey with four gold and two silver,&nbsp, Italy with two gold, three silver and one bronze together France with one gold and two silver and Romania with one gold and one bronze listened their anthems in Sapareva Banya at the end of the 9th European Mountain Running Championships. Also Russia (one silver and three bronze) and Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Spain and Belgium (all with one bronze) had the honour to see their athletes on the podium.
Host Country Bulgaria lost bronze medals in senior women team for only two points defeated for the third place by Russian Team.
But Bulgarian Athletics Federation with its President, Dobromir Karamarinov, and its staff, can be very satisfied for the event which was really one of best ever organised.
238 athletes, representing 24 countries, started in the four races, in a beautiful sunshine day.
For the first time ever present one athlete from Latvia.
In total the nations participants were: Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Rep., France, Germany, Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Former Republic&nbsp, of Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine.
Officials from Norway and Greece were also present at the event. ”
“
Turkey’s Ahmet Arslan took his fourth successive European Mountain Running Championships gold medal stopping the clock in 46.14 (km. 12.2),&nbsp, ahead two Italian: Martin Dematteis and Marco De Gasperi (European Champion in 2004 and&nbsp, also second in 2007 and last year, plus five world senior and one world junior titles).
Nevertheless, Italy convincingly retained the men’s team title with just 10 points, an honour they have won ever since the championships took their place on European Athletics’ programme of events in 2002.
France got the silver medals with 30 points while Spain were third with 38 points.
The senior women’s race over 9km also fulfilled pre-race predictions with France’s Marie Laure Dumergues, who had shown her form when she won the Grand Ballon race by a big margin, winning in 39:13.
Italy’s Valentina Belotti had to settle for second place for the second year in succession, finishing 16 seconds behind her French rival after a thrilling race. Russia’s Elena Nagovitsyna was third in 39:44, overtaking Italy’s Antonella Confortola about a kilometre from the line.
However, Belotti and Confortola, with third scorer Cristina Scolari in sixth place, helped Italy to a comfortable team victory, defending the title they won in 2009 and scoring just 10 points. France finished second with 37 points, just coming home ahead of Russia who got the bronze medals with 39 points.
The junior categories were introduced in 2007 and they have quickly proved to be a success.
Huseyin Pak continued Turkey’s winning streak, runners from the country have won all four junior men’s individual titles, when he won the 9km race in 33.15.
Her 16-year-old compatriot Sebhattin Yildrimci finished second in 33:42 while Belgian’s Jente Joly was third in 34:09.
Turkey also regained the team title they won in 2007 and 2009 with just 11 points while 2009 team champions Italy were second with 34 points, ahead Great Britain with 35 points.
Romania’s 18-year-old Denisa Ionela Dragomir was a clear winner of the junior women’s race over 4.6km, winning in 18.28, by 45 seconds from Turkey’s Yagmur Tarhan (time 19.13). Third was Russia’s Anastasia Mikhaylova in 19.25.
Tarhan had the consolation of leading the Turkish trio to gold medals in the team race, retaining their title after also winning 12 months ago.
Turkey scored six points while Russia finished second with 10 points and Romania got bronze medal finishing third with 12 points.
The health of the sport across Europe can be seen by the fact that in the junior women’s race alone seven nations had athletes in the top 8.
The competition had a TV Coverage on live in the national Bulgarian television.
More information can be read on the webpage of the event: www.emrc2010saparevabanya.org.
European Athletics was present with many officials like the Vice President, Svein Arne Hansen (NOR), and the Council members, Janez Aljancic (SLO), Philippe Lamblin (FRA, also Chairman of EA Mountain Running Commission), Salih Munir Yaras (TUR, also EA Delegate to the event) besides, of course, Dobromir Karamarinov (BUL, also President of Bulgarian Athletic Federation).
Many authorities were also present and the most important was Tzvetan Tzvetanov, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Internal Affairs.
Sasho Ivanov, Mayor of Sapareva Banya, was very happy to welcome all these persons like Boris Georgiev – Mokata, first Bulgarian who won a medal in the Olympic Games (bronze medal in boxing, 1952, in Helsinki).
At the end of Championships European Mountain Running Commission formed by Philippe Lamblin (FRA) as Chairman, and by Anna Pichrtova (CZE), Bruno Gozzelino (ITA), Christian Prestegaard (NOR), Tomo Sarf (SLO) and Christoph Seiler (SWI) like members with Ede Rutkovszky, as Cordinator held its annual meeting.
Bulgarian Athletics Federation worked very well receiving congratulations from all the participants.
Finally Dobromir Karamarinov, introduced WMRA President, Bruno Gozzelino, to Radoslav Efrememov, Executive Director in Borovetz, in way to examinee the possibility for the candidature of Bulgarian Athletic Federation for one next World Mountain Running Championships in Bulgaria, probably just in Borovetz, a well known city in the winter sport that could a perfect venue for this kind of competition.&nbsp,&nbsp,
The award prize ceremony ended with the passing of the flag by LOC in Sapareva Banya to next LOC of the 10th European Mountain Running Championships on 9th July 2010 in Bursa, Turkey: this LOC was present at the event with a great promoting staff of the event and another success fro mountain running discipline is announced for the future!

First four photos by LOC.
All the podium of the four categories for teams.

Fifth photo by Rumen Yonkov&nbsp,

Tzvetan Tzvetanov, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Internal Affairs, (on the right) with Bruno Gozzelino, WMRA President (in the middle) and Dobromir Karamarinov, BAF President&nbsp,(on the left).
&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,

Last two photos by LOC: (on left) Mayor of Bursa, LOC of 10th European Mountain Running Championships,&nbsp,with EA flag and (on right) Geyzo, mascotte of EA Mountain Running Championships in&nbsp,Sapareva Banya, in front of the parade during opening cerimony.&nbsp, “

“On 4^th July 2010 the 9^th European Mountain Running Championships will be held in Bulgaria,&nbsp,in Sapareva Banya.&nbsp,

243 athletes from 26&nbsp,European Athletic Federations are set to partecipate in the senior and junior category races&nbsp,for both men and women.&nbsp,
National Athletic Federations which confirmed their presence are:
Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Rep., France, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Germany, Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovak Rep., Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey and Ukraine. ”
“
The Local Organising Committee with the President, Sasho Ivanov (Mayor of Sapareva Banya Municipality), the Vice President, Dobromir Karamarinov (President Bulgarian Athletic Federation), the General Secretary, Radka Georgieva, and the Event Coordinator, Galia Puhaleva (also WMRA Council Member) and all the LOC Staff is ready to organise a memorable edition of the Championships.

More information can be read on the webpage of the event: http://www.emrc2010saparevabanya.org.

Further to the technical information about the event the welcome speeches&nbsp,of Hansjorg Wirz (EA President), Svilen Neykov, (Minister of Physical Education and Sport of Republic of Bulgaria), Sasho Ivanov (Dipl.Eng.M.Sc. Mayor of Sapareva Banya), and Dobromir Karamarinov (President of Bulgarian Athletic Federation and European Athletics Council Member) are also available at the webpage.

The TV Production of the event will be realised by IMS Ltd.

During the event the annual meeting of the European Athletics&nbsp,Mountain Running Commission will be held with important item on the agenda like the finalization of the Technical Guidelines or the bidding application for the organisation of 11^th European Mountain Running Championships 2012.
All knows that the 10^th edition of the European Mountain Running Championships will be staged in Turkey, Bursa, on 9^th July 2011.

WMRA is thanking in advance the LOC and European Athletics for their work in favour of the discipline of mountain running and all the National Athletic Federations and the participants for their presence at the EA Championships.

In the images logos of the Championships

By Bruno Gozzelino

“

“Eleven nations participated and four different National anthems were played on the Sauze d’Oulx stage.
The team present were: Bulgaria, England, Germany, Ireland, Poland, Russia, Scotland, Slovenia, Turkey, Wales and Italy.

The fifth WMRA Youth Challenge, raced last weekend in the Susa Valley (Piedmont – Italy) was very exciting, with thrilling competitions on the same hill that hosted in 2004 the World Mountain Running Trophy and in 2006 the Freestyle Ski Winter Olympic Games.

A 1.400 meters circuit, drawn through the city center and the ski slopes, was the setting of this game that brought onto the podium a total of six different nations, all competing in memory of Marco Germanetto, the young Talented Italian tragically lost in 1999.

”
“The WMRA&nbsp, female Challenge (3460 meters, drop +/- 180 meters), saw&nbsp, the show-casing of the Russian team who for long time seemed to be occupying the whole podium.&nbsp, But it was the young Welsh athlete Fiona Price who in 16.32 led the two Russians, Ekaterina Ivonina in 16.39 and Anna Khryasheva in 16.47

In the nations classifications, the gold medal went&nbsp, to Russia (9 points) followed by England, silver (21 points) and Ireland, bronze (35 points). Fourth host Country Italy with 41 points.

The Male race (4.840 meters, drop +/- 270 meters) saw from the first steps the domination of a couple of young Turkish athletes. On the finish line the first was be Dag Somez, who, in 19.12, has beaten Nuri Komur, 19.43.

These two were separated by the surprising Giovanni Olocco, that with his stupendous performance gained the silver medal with a time of 19.38. The Italian, not included in the national team and for this reason just racing individually did not add points to Italy in the Nation classification.

So in the nations result,&nbsp, the gold medal went to Ireland (17 points), followed by Russia, silver (23 points) and Italy, bronze (27 points) , that was third with the same points of Turkish team but before due the best position of the third scoring athlete (12^th Italian instead of 24^th Turkish).

Great success of spectators in a wonderful sun shining day, television and press attended to the event like many authorities as – for sample – Renato Montabone, FIDAL General Secretary, Mauro Meneguzzi, Mayor of Sauze d’Oulx, Bruno Gozzelino, WMRA President, and Raimondo Balicco, WMRA Council member and WMRA Delegate to the competition.

LOC (Atletica Susa with Adriano Aschieris, President, and its staff) received congratulations for the organization by all the present.

The next 6^th WMRA Youth Challenge will be run on 2011 – probably – in Slovenia: final decision will be taken by WMRA Council on next WMRA Council meeting on next 3^rd September 2010.

Photos by Gian Spagnolo.
Moments of boy’s and girl’s races.

By LOC

“

“&nbsp,
Eleven nations participated and four different National anthems were played on the Sauze d’Oulx stage.
The team present were: Bulgaria, England, Germany, Ireland, Poland, Russia, Scotland, Slovenia, Turkey, Wales and Italy.

The fifth WMRA Youth Challenge, raced last weekend in the Susa Valley (Piedmont – Italy) was very exciting, with thrilling competitions on the same hill that hosted in 2004 the World Mountain Running Trophy and in 2006 the Freestyle Ski Winter Olympic Games.

A 1.400 meters circuit, drawn through the city center and the ski slopes, was the setting of this game that brought onto the podium a total of six different nations, all competing in memory of Marco Germanetto, the young talented Italian tragically lost in 1999.

”
“The WMRA&nbsp,female Challenge (3460 meters, drop +/- 180 meters) saw&nbsp,the show-casing of the Russian team who for long time seemed to be occupying the whole podium.&nbsp, But it was the young Welsh athlete Fiona Price who in 16.32 led the two Russians, Ekaterina Ivonina in 16.39 and Anna Khryasheva in 16.47

In the nations classifications, the gold medal went&nbsp,to Russia (9 points) followed by England, silver (21 points), and Ireland, bronze (35 points). Fourth was host Country, Italy, with 41 points.

The Male race (4.840 meters, drop +/- 270 meters) saw from the first steps the domination of a couple of young Turkish athletes.
On the finish line the first was be Dag Somez, who, in 19.12, has beaten Nuri Komur, 19.43.

These two were separated by the surprising Giovanni Olocco, that with his stupendous performance gained the silver medal with a time of 19.38. The Italian, not included in the national team and for this reason just racing individually did not add points to Italy in the Nation classification.

So in the nations result,&nbsp, the gold medal went to Ireland (17 points), followed by Russia, silver (23 points) and Italy, bronze (27 points) , that was third with the same points of Turkish team but&nbsp,on the podium&nbsp,due the best position of the third scoring athlete (12^th Italian instead of 24^th Turkish).

Great success of spectators in a wonderful sun shining day, journalist for television and&nbsp,media attended to the event like many authorities as – for sample – Renato Montabone, FIDAL General Secretary, Mauro Meneguzzi, Mayor of Sauze d’Oulx, Bruno Gozzelino, WMRA President, and Raimondo Balicco, WMRA Council member and WMRA Delegate to the competition.

LOC (Atletica Susa with Adriano Aschieris, President, and its staff) received congratulations for the organization by all the present.

The next 6^th WMRA Youth Challenge will be run on 2011 – probably – in Slovenia: final decision will be taken by WMRA Council on next WMRA Council meeting on next 3^rd September 2010.

Photos by Gian Spagnolo
Moments of the boy’s and girl’s races.

by LOC

“

“Tuesday, 22^nd June 2010, in Tirana, in the presence of Sergey Bubka, IAAF Vice President, IOC member and President of Council Ukrainian Olympic Committee, and of Bruno Gozzelino, WMRA President, Gjergji Ruli, President of the Federation Athletics Albania (AAF – Federated Shqiptare and Atletikes), with the assistance of Nikolin Dionisi, AAF General Secretary, (see photo) has officially announced that Albania has interest for sending the application in way&nbsp,to organize the 27^th World Mountain Running Championships 2011 in Albania.

”
“At the organizational and technical level, the 27^th World Mountain Running Championships in 2011 might take place in the capital Tirana, running in the National Park starting and finishing in the main Stadium of Tirana. ,The Albanian capital also offers other possible solutions for tracks.

The meeting in Albania was made possible thanks to the IAAF General Secretary Pierre Weiss, who is always extremely cooperative with the WMRA for the development of the discipline of mountain running.

After the visit to Tirana, the WMRA is now awaiting the official application by AAF, which would certainly be an important application. However, of course, the deadline for the application is still open to possibly other National Athletic Federations. The possible dates could be the 11^th September 2011.

In the meantime WMRA is going on the preparation of WMRA Calendar 2011 with the most important competitions in world.

On 18^th June 2011 the 8^th WMRA Long Distance Mountain Running Challenge will be held at Petrovo Brdo (Slovenia), on 25^th June 2010 the 6^th WMRA Youth Challenge (competition for 16 – 17 years old) will be run at Gorenja vas (Slovenia) and the 11^th WMRA/WMA Master World Mountain Running Championships in Paluzza (Italy), probably on 18^th September 2011.

At the continental level, 10^th&nbsp, EA Mountain Running Championships (uphill) Bursa (Turkey) will be held on 9^th July 2011, whilst date of the 8^th&nbsp, NACAC Mountain Running Championships, of the 6^th&nbsp, CONSUDATLE Mountain Running Championships and of the 3^rd AAC Mountain Running Championships (probably -&nbsp,once more -&nbsp,together the 6^th&nbsp, Obudu Ranch International Mountain Race).

In 2011 should also take place the Balkan Mountain Running Championships and the Commonwealth Mountain Running Championships, which are already in the past events that have been successful.
Regarding WMRA Grand Prix 2011, WMRA Council would like to meet the organiser of the most important, ancient and popular mountain races in the world (specially in Europe) on next September in Kamnik in way to discuss a new format of&nbsp,the WMRA G.P.&nbsp,series.

WMRA hopes that always more National Athletic Federation will stage in 2011 their National Mountain Running Championships, because this is the first step for the development of the discipline inside the Country.

Photo in the main page: (from left to right) N. Dionisi, S. Bubka, B. Gozzelino, G. Ruli.
Photo in this page: prof. Sali Berisha, Albanian Prime Minister, receives a WMRA pennant by Bruno Gozzelino, WMRA President.&nbsp,

&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp,&nbsp, by Bruno Gozzelino

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“Twelve Nations, one more of the number of editions of this Memorial. At the very last moment also Bulgaria and England joined, and stretched the borders of the only mountain running event dedicated to 16-17 years old athletes.
Eleventh Marco Germanetto’s Memorial, fifth WMRA Youth Challenge, to remember a friend and live the emotions of the young participants, this year with the new record of Nation involved. Sauze d’Oulx is back in the mountain running world, six years after that incredible WMRT 2004.
We are back where Italian pin-up Rosita Gelpi built her best success, where Jonathan Wyatt beated also that Africa that is always so strong. We are where mountain running made his success also on TV, with that long and followed live show remained in the history of this sport.
”
The young athletes today will not have to run till Sportinia, as the &quot,big&quot, did on that World Trophy, but the spirit of that edition will be with them when they will run the 1400 meters ring drawn through the city center and the ski slopes of Sauze d’Oulx.
Turkey, Russia, Slovenia, Poland, and now also England, are the most favourite Teams, together with the Italian Team that will try to confirm the good results had in 2009 in Ostein (Germany).

To complete the picture of the Nations, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Gibraltar, all Nations that should feel at home in the most &quot,british&quot, town of the Turin region.
The race will be on the afternoon of Saturday 26 June, first to start will be the kids born between 2001 – 2004, inserted in the project &quot,Athletics goes… to mountain&quot,. There will be for them a dedicated area, with exceptional guests as the Martin twins and Bernard Dematteis.
TV broadcast will be on with SKY Sport channel and the National RAI sport channels.
As in tradition, another time the Susa Valley and the Marco Gemanetto Memorial are the big feast of junior mountain running.

Present National Teams:
Bulgaria, England, Germany, Gibraltar, Italy, Ireland, Poland, Russia, Scotland, Slovenia, Turkey, Wales.

Paolo Germanetto for WMRA

“SLOVENIA, the host country of the 26. World MR Championships invites international top runners to test the World Championships course!

– 25. July – &quot,The Velika Planina race&quot, – test race on the WCh course – Details
– 15. August – &quot,The Ratitovec race&quot, – Slovenian national Championships – Details

“

“Six years after the memorable edition of the 2004 World Mountain Running Trophy, Sauze d’Oulx – Piemonte/Italy – is back in the thrilling action of the Mountain Running.

Sauze d’Oulx, winter ski resort of the high Susa Valley, will be on June 26th the hosting town of the 5th WMRA Youth Challenge. (16-17 years old).

Still a month before the only event fully dedicated to young runners, and nine National Teams have already confirmed their participation in Sauze d’Oulx, Freestyle Olympic site during 2006 Olympic Winter Games.

”
“

Together with Italy, also Germany, Gibraltar, Ireland, Poland, Russia, Scotland, Slovenia, Turkey and Wales will run in the 11th Marco Germanetto Memorial, but some other Countries could probably join them in the next weeks.
Best mountain runners promises of every Country will run on the Saturday afternoon, on a 1400m lap, developed between the old town and ski slopes, where New Zealand Jonathan Wyatt and Italian Rosita Rota Gelpi were the King and Queen of the 2004 WMRT edition.
Girls will face with a 3,5km circuit (+/- 190 m), while boys will run on a 5,0km circuit (+/- 270 m).
After 2009 edition hosted by Osthein (Germany), WMRA Youth Challenge comes back to the Susa Valley, where the first three editions of the Memorial of Atletica Susa young Champion Marco Germanetto, took place. This event launched, in the past years, runners like Mateja Kosovelj, Lucija Krkoc, Xavier Chevrier and Laura Park, just to mention some of them.

This is a friendly greeting of Franco Arese, president of Italian Athletics Federation, to all participants of the 5th WMRA Youth Challenge: &quot,Mountain running has grown fast in the last decade. One of the driving forces behind this discipline is located in the Alta Val di Susa.
Here the local authorities have realized since long the great potentialities of this event that draw the attention of people and media. Thanks to the commitment of the Atletica Susa club the mountain running has turned from a niche event to a point of reference for any initiative aimed to promote the tourism, the culture and the economy of this wonderful corner of our peninsula.
The success of the World Mountain Running Trophy 2004 held in Sauze d’Oulx, on the wave of the Winter Olympics, has represented a leap in quality. However the way has been paved through the years by events such as the Memorial Germanetto, which was born from the &quot,memory&quot, and the &quot,friendship&quot,, with the aim of spreading love for athletics.
This event gave origin, together with the WMRA Youth Challenge, to the first international mountain running circuit entirely dedicated to the youngsters.

The number of participating countries keeps increasing as well as the side initiatives, the relations and the cultural exchanges have also intensified.
This way, on behalf and in memory of Marco, the mountain running opens new horizons and flies towards the future.&quot,

For further information: www.atleticasusa.it

Paolo Germanetto for WMRA

“

“French prevail at the Grand-Ballon
Willer-sur-Thur, 13. May 2010 – More than 500 runners participated the opening race of the WMRA Grand-Prix at the Grand-Ballon in France. With Robert Krupicka (CZ), Timo Zeiler (GER), Roman Skalsky (CZE), David Schneider (CH), Markus Kroll (A) and the French national team with Julien Rancon, Manu Meyssat and Said Jandari at the start, a high level competition and a very hard race was expected also this year. No rain but deep mist was waiting for the runners at the top of the Vosges.

”
“The French runners who are fit for the national championships on 6th June at Mura, leaded by Jandari, stared with a high pace. After the Moulin, Julien Rancon took the head of the race. At the passage of Goldbach, he led it alone and Meyssat and Burrier were already at distance. Krupicka, Skalsky, Zeiler and Kroll were already far back. Only the Swiss Schneider succeeded to follow Meyssat and Burrier. Meyssat joined Rancon and the both runners from the French national team climbed together the Grand-Ballon. Rancon built his second success at the Grand-Ballon, after the one of 2007, in the downhill to the finish line. He wan the race in excellent time 1:00:26, 4 seconds faster than Jonathan Wyatt when he won the race last year. Meyssat finished second like in 2008, Burrier was third and and Schneider as the fastest foreigner finished fourth.

In the women race, success of the French champion of last year, Marie-Laure Dumergues. Constance Devillers, second at the European championship in Zell 2008 finished second.

Results

Jean-Alain Haan for the WMRA

&nbsp,

&nbsp,

“

“Bruno Gozzelino, WMRA President had meetings and discussions with Vassilios Sevastis, President of the Hellenic Athletic Association (SEGAS), Panagiotis Dimakos, SEGAS Secretary General (on left in the photo) and Athanassios Raptis, SEGAS Competition Director (on right in the photo), over last 12^th and 13^th May.
WMRA President, Bruno Gozzelino was SEGAS’ special guest and was invited by the Hellenic Athletic Federation in order to discuss on any kind of support aiming to the development of Mountain Running in Greece.”
“&nbsp,

SEGAS is already promoting Mountain Running, by sending representative teams to the annual Balkan Mountain Running Championships, aiming thus, to the events’ upgrading. Therefore one of the Federations’ goals is the proper staging of official competitions such as the 1^st National Mountain Running Championships.

&quot,I am convinced that SEGAS can host great competition, contributing thus to the further upgrading of our event. I am sure that Mountain Running will mark a successful itinerary in Greece, once initiated, as it is very easy for someone to deal with it and especially in areas where there are no athletics facilities, youth could be approached and be proposed to compete in nature. We must take into consideration that Mountain Running is an athletics event, standing between the Road Races and the Cross Country Competitions&quot, said the WMRA President (interview appearing in the Hellenic Federations’ Official Site). And concluded: &quot,Mountain Running Competitions are held in all over the world, but our goal is to have them under the authority of National Athletic Federations&quot,.

Vassilios Sevastis, SEGAS President made the following statement : &quot,We have had an excellent cooperation with WMRA President and we discussed in details about the regulations, the staging, the promotion and development of the event which seems to be very popular among the long distance runners, especially over the last years. All of us at the Federation, based on our long experience, are convinced that we will be able to cope with the expectations of this new role and stage events of high level, under our authority&quot,.

At the end, SEGAS Secretary General, Panagiotis Dimakos said : &quot,We had a perfect cooperation with WMRA President, Bruno Gozzelino, over the last two days. We discussed all the details on the adequate staging of Mountain Running competitions. We do believe that the event will be applauded by the Greek sports fans, just in the same way as internationally&quot,

By SEGAS Press Office

“