Author: wmra_wp

“Sunday in Mayrhofen was dominated by dazzling sunshine and the dazzling faces of the participants and winners.

In the area that is home to Markus Kr&ouml,ll, an ascent of 1,170 metres in 10.4 km had to be achieved in order to sign the guest book, as ‘Harakiri finisher’, at the Gsch&ouml,&szlig,wand-Haus mountain hut and then enjoy the fantastic views over the Zillertal.”
The men’s section was won by New Zealander Jonathan Wyatt in 53:37 min, ahead of Robert Krupicka (54:47 min) – the winner of the last Grand Prix-Race on the Grintovec – and the American Ricky Gates (55:42 min). Best Austrian was local matador Simon Lechleitner, in fourth place with 56:17 min.

For the women, the favourite Andrea Mayr from Austria won in 62:15 min, ahead of the Czech Anna Pichrtova (63:15 min) and Mateja Kosovelj (65:38 min) from Slovenia.

Harakiri LOC

On last 1st August, the 4th South American Mountain Running Championships was held in Quito, Ecuador.

During last CONSUDATLE’s Congress celebrated on July 19th in Lima all the Federation of South America were invited to take part at the event.
Finally the participation was encouraging but – of course – more athletes could be run in this event in the future.

In fact were present five Countries and exactly one athlete from Brazil, one from Colombia, one from Peru, seven from Venezuela and all the rest from
Ecuador.

Ecuador runners dominated all the competitions, winning junior and senior individual races, men and women.

Peru won a bronze medal in the junior women race, Colombia won a silver medal in the senior women race and Venezuela kept bronze medal in the senior men event.

Of course Ecuador won gold medals also in the team standing, Venezuela team women senior was second in the senior women team’s competition.

The best South American runners could be present at the next WMRA World Mountain Running Championships in Campodolcino – Madesimo, Italy on 6thSeptember 2009, with good chances for great results, like in the past.

Results individual: junior women: 1&deg, Andrea Torres (ECU) 20’50&quot,, 2&deg, Jessica Paguay (ECU) 20’55&quot,, Jovan De La Cruz Capanj (PER) 21’00&quot,, junior men: 1&deg, Jorge Luis Arias (ECU) 34’07&quot,, Jonathan Rodriguez (ECU) 36’08&quot,, 3&deg, Adrian Pillajo (ECU) 36’29&quot,, senior women: Rosa Alba Chacha (ECU) 41’51&quot,, 2&deg, Maria Eugenia Rodriguez (COL) 42’53&quot,, 3&deg, Maria Paredes (ECU) 43’25&quot,, senior men: 1&deg, Marco Almachi (ECU) 57’39&quot,, 2&deg, Stalin Barros (ECU) 59’13&quot,, 3&deg, Alexis Salazar (VEN) 59’39&quot,.

Bruno Gozzelino

On last 1st August, the 4th South American Mountain Running Championships
was held in Quito, Ecuador.

During last CONSUDATLE’s Congress celebrated on July 19th in Lima all the
Federation of South America were invited to take part at the event

Finally the participation was encouraging but – of course – more athletes
could be run in this event in the future.

In fact were present five Countries and exactly one athlete from Brazil, one
from Colombia, one from Peru, seven from Venezuela and all the rest from
Ecuador.

Ecuador runners dominated all the competitions, winning junior and senior
individual races, men and women.

Peru won a bronze medal in the junior women race, Colombia won a silver
medal in the senior women race and Venezuela kept bronze medal in the senior
men event.

Of course Ecuador won gold medals also in the team standing, Venezuela team
women senior was second in the senior women team’s competition.

The best South American runners could be present at the next WMRA World
Mountain Running Championships in Campodolcino – Madesimo, Italy on
6thSeptember 2009, with good chances for great results, like in the
past.

Results individual: junior women: 1&deg, Andrea Torres (ECU) 20’50&quot,, 2&deg, Jessica
Paguay (ECU) 20’55&quot,, Jovan De La Cruz Capanj (PER) 21’00&quot,, junior men: 1&deg,
Jorge Luis Arias (ECU) 34’07&quot,, Jonathan Rodriguez (ECU) 36’08&quot,, 3&deg, Adrian
Pillajo (ECU) 36’29&quot,, senior women: Rosa Alba Chacha (ECU) 41’51&quot,, 2&deg, Maria
Eugenia Rodriguez (COL) 42’53&quot,, 3&deg, Maria Paredes (ECU) 43’25&quot,, senior men:
1&deg, Marco Almachi (ECU) 57’39&quot,, 2&deg, Stalin Barros (ECU) 59’13&quot,, 3&deg, Alexis
Salazar (VEN) 59’39&quot,.

Bruno Gozzelino

“Over 200 mountain running fans from 10 countries gathered in the Kamniska bistrica valley to climb the Grintovec (2558m) – one of the highest mountains in Slovenia.

The course is probably the hardest in Europe – 9,6km long with almost 2000m elevation. The weather was excellent for a competition – about 20deg at the start and 10deg at the finish with almost no wind and low humidity. More than 1000 spectators followed the race all along the course and made the atmosphere suitable for a WMRA Grand Prix race. Almost 100 young runners run shorter courses.”
“In the men’s race Czech Robert Krupicka run one of his best races ever and he beat the course record holder Jonathan Wyatt with the second best result of the course. 2008 winner Rickey Gates was third and Sebastian Zarnik was the best local runner.

The race has 12 years long tradition, since 2004 the event is international and Krupicka is the only winner who wan the race two times (05 and 09). On the first seven places we can find runners from six different countries.

In the women’s competition Anna Pichrtova from Czech Republic wan the race the 5 times in succession.

Tomo &Scaron,arf

“

“The first part of the International Mountain running season has just finished with the European Championships held on July 12 in Telfes (AUT) with great success for the Turkish runners in individual races and for the Italians in team competition.

After a short break, the second part of the season gets underway with a circuit of WMRA Grand Prix races on four successive weekends. This schedule is hard for the runners, but suitable for oversees runners who wants to attend at least four WMRA GP races that count towards the final raking.”
“WMRA GP &quot,Alpine tour&quot, starts on 25th July in Slovenia with the &quot,Grintovec race&quot, – one of the toughest Mountain running races in Europe and with almost 2000m elevation in only 9,6km, also one of the steepest. The 2558m high pyramid shaped mountain dominates the north panorama of Ljubljana – the capital of Slovenia. It is a desired goal for many Slovenian hikers who need about six hours to reach the summit. The course record, set by Jonathan Wyatt in 2006, is 1:15:43! The organizer expects many top international mountain runners, especially experts on steep uphill courses.

The second stage of the &quot,Alpine tour&quot, will be Mayrhofen with the &quot,Harakiri race.&quot, This is the first international mountain running event to be held in this famous Austrian tourist resort. The course starts in the city centre and leaves the city after 1km lap in the direction of Penken mountain / 1775m. With 10,5 km and elevation of 1210m the course almost fits into World Championships parameters, which means this course mirrors what athletes would expect at a World Championship event on an uphill year.

Ebensee is the third stage of the tour. This is a traditional venue with a traditional course having already hosted the European Championships (1997). International runners will never forget this event due to the extremely bad weather. It was the only Championships ever where the organizer had to shorten the course because of the weather. In a heavy rain storm, the winner was Austrian Helmut Schmuck and this was one of his four gold medal performances in large international events, where he took part 15 times. We all hope the conditions will be better this year.

&quot,Skalla race&quot, in Norway is the last stage of the tour. On 15. August more than 1,000 runners and walkers will cross the start line just above sea level and their goal will be to reach the finish line on the peak 1820m higher … as soon as possible. The panoramic view to the fjord below is gorgeous. The 8,2 km course is as steep as that of the Grintovec race, just a little shorter. The course record of 1:08:39 was set by local Jon Tvedt who died in the Norwegian mountains this past January. He was an expert for such courses and Skalla was his favorite.

WMRA Grand Prix attracts every year more and more top international runners. Besides World and European Championships, this competition offers them interesting races with varied courses and beautiful views.

“

“Two-time defending champion Ahmet Arslan of Turkey completed a hat-trick by winning the men’s title at the 8th European Mountain Running Championships in the Austrian village of Telfes im Stubai on Sunday.

The gold medal in the senior women’s category went to the 22-year-old Swiss mountain runner Martina Str&auml,hl.

Hundreds of supporters gathered around the 11-kilometer route to cheer for best mountain runners from 25 countries across Europe. The senior men had to negotiate not just the tortuous 11-kilometre route but also an altitude in excess of 1300 metres.

”
“Reigning champion Ahmet Arslan lead the field from the start and maintained it to the finish. Although he received stiff challenge from Italian runner Marco de Gaspari, Swiss Sebastien Epinay and Timo Zeiler of Germany but Arslan kept his cool when it mattered most. With a timing of 58 minutes and 26 seconds he crossed the finish line well ahead of the rest of the pack.

He was followed home by Italian Marco de Gaspari and Swiss Sebastien Epinay who finished second and third respectively. The team title went to Italy, while France and Turkey finished second and third.

In the senior women’s race, 22-year-old Swiss mountain runner Martina Str&auml,hl pipped Italian Valentina Belotti in the closing stages to take the top prize.

To conquer the 9.5 kilometres route, Str&auml,hl needed 54 minutes and 39 seconds, while Belotti finished the course in 55min and 28 seconds. The bronze medal went to the Austrian world champion Andrea Mayr who finished in 56:55.00.

The Italian women emulated their male counterparts to conquer the women’s team title. The Switzerland team spearheaded by Martina Str&auml,hl finished second while Great Britain finished third.

The junior category, which was introduced for the first time attracted high participation and great support from the audience. Turkey stamped its superiority in the junior category winning both the boy’s and girl’s title.

Yusuf Alici became the first junior champion completing the course in 50 minutes and 29 seconds. The Turkish girls captured all the three podium places with Derya Altintas, Elif Karabulut and Yasemin Can finishing in first, second and third place respectively.

Romania fielded only junior athletes and finished runner’s up behind Turkey in team classification in the girl’s category. The third place went to Great Britain.

In the junior boy’s category the team title was won by Italy, Norway and Great Britain followed in second and third place respectively.

“

“The 4th edition of the WMRA Youth Challenge was held on June 27 in Ostheim, located about 100 km east of Frankfurt.
Entrants included 16 and 17 years old girls and boys representing 11 countries. Boys competed on a 4,7 and girls on 3,0km kilometer loop up &amp, down course. The race organization was excellent from the hospitality to the event logistics. There is no doubt that the friendships made at the event will remain in the memories of the young runners for quite some time. The Italian team dominated in the girls’ race and the Russian team dominated in the boys’ competition. In the boys’ race Russian standout Rusakov Andrey repeated his success from 2008 when he won the 3rd edition of the Youth Challenge.

Results&raquo,

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“

“The second Balkan MR Championships was held in city of Teteven in the middle of Balkan Mountains.
Swen Arne Hansen, European Athletic vice president and WMRA Council members were representing the international athletic and mountain running family.

Runners from eight Balkan countries were competing in 4 standard categories: Junior women and men and senior women and men. It was a lap – up/down – course with the 4,3km long lap and 280m ascent/descent that has to be run once be the JW, twice by the JM and women and three times by the men. The course is not a technical one, but steep, demanding descent makes it hard especially for the runners that have to run it more times.”
The weather was excellent for running – after a rainy Saturday the race day was brilliant sunny with temperatures 20 – 25degC and low humidity.
After organizing the first Balkan Championships in 2008 Bulgarian Athletic Federation chaired by the president Dobromir Karamarinov has again done a good job – the organization was on a high level and all the participants were satisfied with traditional Bulgarian hospitality.

Third Balkan MR Champs will be organized again in Bulgaria in Sapareva Banya as a test for the staff for European MR Championships, that will take place on the same course in begin of July 2010.

Results – comment:
Ten from twelve available individual medals went to Turkey, that becomes a real MR top developed country. Turkish runners cold be found on all the top positions in both junior races, Alper Demir, European vice-champion comfortably wan JM race. Local Mihaylova Milka convincingly wan the women’s race – in 2008 she run her first international race finishing European Champs on 10th place. In the men’s race Erkan Kus from Turkey wan the race followed by the Romanian orienteering specialist Zinica Ionut. According to the expectations Turkish runners wan all four team gold medals.

JUNIOR WOMEN
Course: 4,3km / 280m-280m

1 Elif Karabulut 91 TUR 21:43
2 ZEYNEP Yok 92 TUR 22:02
3 YA&#286,MUR Tarnan 91 TUR 22:30
4 NIGAR Argun 91 TUR 23:01
5 MORJAN Raluca 90 ROM 23:50

WOMEN
Course: 8,6km / 560m-560m

1 Mihaylova Milka 72 BUL 45:37
2 H&Uuml,LYA Bastug 88 TUR 46:34
3 NILAY Esen 87 TUR 46:44
4 PANOVSKA Rumyana 66 BUL 48:10
5 S&Uuml,HEYLA Adiyaman 88 TUR 48:43

JUNIOR MEN
Course: 8,6km / 560m-560m

1 ALPER Demir 90 TUR 37:39
2 AYKUT Tasdemir 91 TUR 38:30
3 EMRE Karaday 91 TUR 38:50
4 TSVETANOV Tsvetan 91 BUL 41:24
5 VLADKOV Stoyan 91 BUL 42:02

MEN
Course: 12,9km / 790m-790m

1 ERKAN Kus 88 TUR 56:33
2 ZINICA Ionut 83 ROM 57:29
3 ERCAN Muslu 88 TUR 58:24
4 ERDIN&Ccedil, Ekin 88 TUR 59:47
5 MUSTAFA Shaban 78 BUL 60:18

“The first stage of the WMRA Grand Prix 2009 was held in a small French city Willer-sur-Thur in Alsace. Grand Ballon – the highest peak in Vosges Mountains – was the finish of the GP race for the second time.

Over 500 runners from 12 countries gathered on the start lines in Willer-sur-Thur (men) and Goldbach (women). Men ran a 12km course and the women ran just the upper 8km of the men’s course.

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“

In the men’s race, the world’s best mountain runner of the last seasons – New Zealander Jonathan Wyatt, started in a group of international runners including 2008 winner Meyssat, Czech champion Krupicka. It was very hot in the first part of the course (temperatures hovered in the 20s? with sunshine?), with the group still running together. In the second part of the course, Wyatt increased the pace and got a small advantage over his competitors, which was enough to cross the finish line as the winner.

In the women’s race Suisse triathlete Maya Cholet was victorious. In 2008 she finished in fourth place and this year she improved the result to win the race.The chief of the organizing committee – mr. Jean-Alain Haan – put on a quality event. The organization was smooth and runners had a wonderful experience in spite of some stormy weather at the finish.

Tomo Sarf for WMRA / IAAF

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Results:

MEN
1 WYATT Jonathan NZL 1:00:46
2 MEYSSAT Emmanuel FRA 1:01:30
3 KRUPICKA Robert CZE 1:02:03
4 RANCON Julien FRA 1:02:24
5 BURRIER Eduoard FRA 1:02:41

WOMEN
1 CHOLLET Maya SUI 51:18
2 KUSTER Simone FRA 52:02
3 TAYLOR Candice GBR 53:40
4 KUSTER Line FRA 54:16
5 GALLAND Valerie FRA 54:55

“

Second Balkan MR championships will be held on Sunday, 31. May in Bulgarian city Teveten, about 100km east from Sofia. Runners will compete in 4 categories on up-downhill course. Junior women will run the 4 km long lap with 300m elevation once, women and junior men 2 times and men three times. Bulgarian Athletic federation as organizer is expecting runners from 9 Balkan countries. 1st Balkan Championships was organized in 2008 in Bulgarian spa resort Sapareva Banya – the venue of European MR Championships 2010.