Author: wmra_wp

Bludenz attracts large entry and past World (senior)champions

4th World Masters Mountain Running Championships
(WMA & WMRA)

Entries for this years championships in Bludenz/Nuziders (Austria), was the second highest to date, falling just short of the 1000 mark at 985.
The event was blessed with fine weather and staged with great professionalism by the local club ‘Union Berglauf team Sparkasse Bludenz’ led by chairman Hubert Rodhammer.

Defending champions proved hard to dislodge from their titles.
Simon Gutierrez (USA-M40) retained his by holding off multiple world and European title holders of the past, Antonio Molinari (ITA) and Helmut Schmuck, winning by just 14 seconds.
Albert Anderegg (SUI-M60) sped off at high speed never to be caught and winning by the large margin of 3 minutes 2 seconds. I looks like he may chalk up a hat trick of victories next year.

Four of the eight womens categories saw titles retained.
Marie H-Duventaster (W45-GER) was another convincing winner by almost three minutes; Paula Blanka W50-CZE) won by two and a half minutes; Barbel Berghaus (W65-GER) won by four and a half minutes; and with just two entrants for the W70+ Maria Marcibalova (SVK) was one hour four minutes (!) in front of the oldest person to enter, Xenia Nicolaev (MDA) who was born in 1927.

There was a satisfying share out of medals with Germany again taking most gold (4).
Also on the podium with medal winners were Scotland, England, Austria, Holland, Switzerland, USA, Italy, Ireland, France, Czech Republic, Columbia, and Slovakia.

The event also attracted past champions, and World Trophy medallists.
Tracy Brindley (W35-SCO) , 2005 World silver, won her class and Rueda Opplinger Fabiola (W40-SUI) 1987-8 World gold, was placed second in her class.

The course was 9.2km long climbing the Muttersberg mountain with a height difference of 818m.
The fastest time of the day was recorded by Simon Gutierrez M40) with 42.50
And the fastest woman was Marie H-Duventaster (W45) with 49.58

Sadly, the planned visit of Cesare Beccalli, president of the World Masters Association, was unable to take place due to illness and we wish him a speedy recovery.

Full results and photographs are available on the event web page via the link on www.wmra.info

The 5th edition of the Masters Championships will take place in Czech Republic on September

23rd Mountain Running Trophy – Ovronnaz, Switzerland

Saturday 15 September 2007 Ovronnaz, Switzerland. Marco De Gasperi (ITA) won his fifth World title in the mountains of the Canton of Valais today, holding off the strong challenge of an African duo from Eritrea at the WMRA World Mountain Running Trophy. De Gasperi who excels in the up/down version of the World Trophy had a comfortable margin of victory on the three lap course of 12km and 933m of ascent/descent, beating Tesfay Yohhanes by 30 seconds in a time of 51.49. Italy beat Eritrea in the team race, both finishing with 30 points but Italy’s last counter in 12th position was better than Eritrea’s ‘last man’ (15th position). Anna Pichrtova (CZE), also a downhill specialist, lifted the women’s World title at last after several high positions in previous trophy races. Last year’s champion, Andrea Mayr (AUT) gave her a hard fight. It was not until the descent on the second and final lap that the Czech woman pulled away to win by 41 seconds in a time of 39.11 for the 8km 622m ascent/descent course. Laura Haefeli (USA) led the American team to their second successive World Title with a score of 23 points, just one more than Czech Republic with 24. Australia won their first World medals after 20 years of attempts as their junior women won individual gold with Lara Tamsett and team gold from USA, second, and Turkey, third. Eritrea dominated the junior men’s race with positions 2, 3, 4, and 7th. However the individual gold went to Ugandan Geoffrey Kusuro who won a thrilling sprint finish by 5 seconds. The event closed with the WMRA flag being handed over to Crans-Montana (SUI) who stage next year’s event. A record number of 390 athletes took part and with 35 nations sending entrants that equalled the previous highest number who raced in 2003. Full results can be seen on the event web page via the link on www.wmra.info

Jungfrau Marathon report

Saturday 8 September 2007

The fourth edition of the World Long Distance Mountain Running Challenge, held in conjunction with the Jungfrau Marathon, produced two new champions on Saturday 8 September.
4200 athletes from 50 different countries set off from Interlaken, Switzerland, for the 42.195km run to the Kleine Scheidegg 1839m above the town. It is a technically difficult race to judge since the first 25km is on fairly flat road. The early leaders rarely figure on the podium at the finish as the serious mountain climb is compressed into the last 17km.
So it proved in this race. At 19km V. Vlas (MKD) and S. Kaledin (RUS) were nearly a kilometre in front of a pack which contained the eventual medal winners. As soon as the climbing got under way, New Zealand’s Jonathan Wyatt surged into the lead and at the 30km point was a minute ahead of Italy’s Hermann Achmuller with another Italian Gerd Frick a further minute adrift in 3rd place.
These positions remained unchanged to the finish, and as such Wyatt thus becomes the first mountain runner to win both short distance (World Trophy) and long distance (Challenge) titles.
In the women’s race the same situation prevailed. Early leaders faded to leave Anita Hakenstad Evertsen of Norway to devastate her rivals on the climb to win by 8 minutes, just less than two minutes outside the course record. The Russian pair of Elina Kaledina and Jeanna Malkova finished 2nd and 3rd.
An estimated 20,000 spectators, bathed in brilliant sunshine, with the North wall of the Eiger and the snow covered massif of the Jungfrau towering above them, enjoyed a feast of amazing endurance running amongst the finest scenery Switzerland has to offer.

RESULTS (see event web page via www.wmra.info)
Women
1. Hakenstad Evertsen, Anita NOR 3:23.05,
2. Kaledina, Elena RUS 3:31.16,0
3. Malkova, Jeanna RUS 3:36.43,4
4. Carlsohn, Anja GER 3:36.59,0
5. Landolt, Claudia SUI 3:37.58,4
6. Hawker, Elizabeth GBR 3:40.00,6
Men
1. Wyatt, Jonathan NZL 2:55.32,1
2. Achmüller, Hermann ITA 2:58.35,1
3. Frick, Gerd ITA 3:02.41,1
4. Sanchez, Hernandez Ranulfo MEX 3:05.56,8
5. Burrell, Galen USA 3:11.05,1
6. Kaledine, Serguej RUS 3:11.28,7

South AmerS.American Mountain Running Championships
Caracas (Venezuela) August 11th

More than 300 athletes took part in the 3rd edition of the S.American Mountain running Championships which was also an open race.
The mens course set on the mountains which surround the city of Caracas was 12km long with a single ascent-descent of 500m. The women ran 10km.
The international representatives from Columbia, Brazil, Chile and Venezuela headed the results list with Columbia providing two new champions.
The big surprise in the mens race was the defeat of current World Champion, Rolando Ortiz (COL) who finished 7th. The tricky descent with wet underfoot conditions did not suit his style of running. The race was won in impressive style by his countryman Jhon Jairo Vargas in a time of 53:46. However, Venezuelan runners filled the next three positions and 6th position to win the team event. Only 2 seconds separated Andy Carvallo (2nd) and Robert Lugo (3rd). All three expect to be competing in the World Trophy in Ovronnaz (SUI) in September.
The Columbian women provided both the individual Champion in Maria Rodriguez, and the team title by filling positions 1; 3 and 4. Maria, a top class long distance performer (2nd positions in Europe’s prestigious Sierre Zinal and Matterhornlauf races in recent years) won by the narrow margin of 15 seconds from Cruz Salazar (VEN) in a time of 46:29.
The only Chilean representative, Roberto Echeverria finished a respectable fifth.
The two Brazilian athletes 9one man, one woman) brought up the rear.
General Secretary of the Venezuelan Federation who is also chair of the S.American mountain running commission Marcos Oviedo expressed satisfaction that the championship is beginning to attract the attention of more S.American countries whose terrain is ideally suited to the sport of mountain running.
The sponsors, Gatorade commented that they saw mountain running as an excellent vehicle for promotion of their drinks products.
The event was preceded by a well attended seminar on mountain running conducted by WMRA President, Danny Hughes, assisted by Rolando Ortiz.

ican Mountain Running Championships

Gaiardo clinches Grand Prix Title after three races.

3rd WMRA Grand Prix.
5th August.
Schlickeralm (AUT)
Report.

Marco Gaiardo (ITA) duly recorded his second Grand Prix victory which, together with a second position, guarantees him the overall Grand Prix title with just one race to go. Although he was only four seconds in front of Poland’s Andrzeg Dlugosz (4th in last years ranking) he was always in control, doing just enough to win in a modest time of 60.47, five minutes slower than Wyatt’s record for this course.
Gabriele Abarte (ITA), an early leader, finished third and is now a contender for an overall minor position.
The ladies race produced a big surprise. Renate Rungger (ITA), competing in her first mountain race not only beat pre race favourite Anna Pichrtova CZE) into second place by 17 seconds, but set a new record time of 69.03 beating the old one by just two seconds. Renate comes to mountain running from the Italian Cross Country background. The overall final ranking however is between Pichrtova and Martina Strachl (SUI) who was third on this occasion and the outcome will be decided in the final race in Slovenia in October.
Izabela Zatorska, a previous Grand Prix winner on several occasions, finished a creditable 13th (time 80.46) in her comeback race after injury.
Full results may be seen by following the link to the race on WMRA web page (www.wmra.info)

Danny Hughes.

Canada stage successful event.
Nick Schuetze and Christine Lundy of the USA won the individual titles
at the NACAC mountain running championships last weekend, and team USA
took both team titles.

Adrian Lambert and Katrina Driver took home the Jim Clampett Awards
for top Canadian mountain runners. Lambert was third overall behind
Schuetze and Ivan Babikov (a Russian not yet turned Canadian citizen),
while Driver was third behind Lundy and Lisa Goldsmith, another
American woman.

This was the final selection race for the Canadian teams. The
following runners have made the team for the World Trophy in
Switzerland, though we are still waiting for confirmation from some.

Senior Men
Simon Driver
Adrian Lambert
Dan Roycroft
Mark Vollmer
Jason Loutitt
Laslo Orosz

Senior Women
Katrina Driver
Sharlene Cobain
Amy Golumbia
Jen Faraone

Junior Men
Shaun Stephens-Whale
Fraser Mills-Connery
Michael Somppi
Mike Reid

Junior Women
Katie Tongue
Tana Chesham
Sara Hewitt

Team scores were:
Men:
USA 6 (1-2-3)
Canada West 21 (4-5-12)
Canada East 25 (6-8-11)
Mexico 26 (7-9-10)

Women:
USA 7 (1-2-4)
Canada West 16 (3-6-7)

Full results:
http://www.canmorechallenge.com/images/stories/web_files/07ccresults12k.txt

Wyatt and Pichrtova remain dominant.
2nd WMRA Grand Prix
Grossglockner
Heiligenblut (Austria)
Sunday 15th July.

Report.

Everyone ran to form in the second of four 2007 WMRA Grand Prix races today. As predicted Jonathan Wyatt (NZL) and Anna Pichrtova (CZE) continued where they left off last year with impressive victories in the 12.6km 1514m climb up the Grossglockner.
Resuming his long standing battle with Marco Gaiardo (ITA), Wyatt won in a time of 72 minutes 22 seconds, only 51 seconds in front of Gaiardo. The closeness of the finish indicates that the remaining main difference between these two fine athletes is now physicological. Gaiardo badly needs a victory to break the spell! They resume their contest on 5th August in the third WMRA Grand Prix, the Schlickeralm race from Telfes (Austria). Marcus Kroll (AUS) kept the local flag flying with third position.
Anna Pichrtova, 81 minutes 25 seconds, had a more comfortable task, winning by more than eight minutes over her fellow country woman, Pavla Matyasova.
The Czech republic had a clean sweep of the podium positions as Iva Milesova finished third.
There was an excellent entry of 712 runners from 20 nations who enjoyed fine weather and splendid views of the Grossglockner glacier (after the finish !)
Follow links on WMRA web page for full results

Danny Hughes.

preview of the Grossglockner race on July 15th

2nd WMRA Grand Prix.
Grossglockner (Austria) July 15th.
Preview.
Both 2006 Grand Prix winners, Jonathan Wyatt (NZL) and Anna Pichrtova (CZE) enter the 2007 Grand Prix series for the first time and are clear favourites to amass enough points from the remaining three races to repeat their 2006 victories.
Strangely, both suffered injuries (not related to running) during the winter, which required surgery. Jonathan injured his knee in a sledging accident and Anna’s traumatic car accident in Nigeria resulting in a shattered arm has been well reported.
Both have proved that they are completely recovered as they recorded victories in the Mt Washington (USA) race in June, and Anna had an excellent run last weekend to take silver medal in the European championship. She will not have the winner of that event, Eversten (NOR) to contend with so her nearest challenger should be her fellow citizen, Iva Milesova
Wyatt will resume his tussle with Marco Gaiardo (ITA) who repeatedly finished second to Jonathan in 2006. Marco is in fine form as he showed in winning the first Grand Prix race in Switzerland and finishing in Bronze medal position in the European championships. He will not have the gold and silver medallist of that event to contend with so these two will battle it out for first and second positions.
The race starts in the village of Heiligenblut and ascends 1514m over 12.6km to the lower slopes of Austria’s highest mountain, the Grossglockner.

Danny Hughes

The 6th edition of the European mountain running Championships in the French Pyrenees (Cauterets) was held in dramatic scenery, enhanced by low lying mist from which the runners emerged into bright sunshine.
Anna Pichrtova lost her crown to the Norwegian, Anita Haakenstad-Eversten by the narrow margin of 49 seconds. This is the first major event medal won by the Norwegians who also placed Kirsten Otterbu in bronze medal position. Unfortunately for them they could not place their third counter high enough to take the team title which went to Switzerland (17 points) who were led home by world trophy silver medallist Marina Straehl in 4th position. One wonders if Anna had had more time to recover from her car accident in Nigeria last November whether she cold have found that extra 49 seconds of pace! The men’s race also produced a new champion as the Turkish runner Ahmet Arslan held off the strong Italian pair Marco De Gasperi ( four times world champion), 11 seconds behind, and last years European champion Marco Gaiardo a further 19 seconds adrift. The Italians had the consolation of a team gold medal position with 15 points to the host countries (France) 31 points. ahmet_aslan There was a pleasing distribution of medals with seven countries sharing positions on the podium. The introduction of junior races on a trial basis was judged a success. Lucija Krkoc (SLO) won the junior women’s race which Great Britain taking the team title and Turkey placed their juniors 1,2,3 led by Mehmet Akkoyun to take the junior men’s title. Leading Results. Men 1 A Arslan TUR 68.39 2 M Gasperi ITA 68.50 3 M Gaiardo ITA 69.09 4 A Bolkhovitin RUS 70.01 5 S Epiney SUI 70.16 6 R Fontain FRA 70.28 Teams 1 Italy 15 2 France 31 3 Germany 36 15 countries finished full teams Women 1 A Eversten NOR 51.45 2 A Pichtova CZE 52.34 3 K Otterbu NOR 52.56 4 M Straehl SUI 53.26 5 A Joly Flueckiger SUI 53.45 6 I Guillot FRA 53.51 Teams 1 Switzerland 17 2 Czech Republic 22 3 Italy 29 16 countries finished full teams

2007 European Mountain Running Championships.
Preview.

There is a fine entry list for the 6th EAA Mountain Running Championships which will take place in the Pyrenean town of Cauteretes, France on Sunday 8th July.
Twenty-two countries will contest both the mens (12.8km and 1570m ascent) and womens ( 8.5km and 1010m ascent) uphill only races.
Defending champions Marco Gaiardo (ITA) and Anna Pichrtova (CZE) have both shown good form this year, Gaiardo in winning the first WMRA Grand Prix race and Pichrtova, having made a remarkable recovery from injuries sustained in a road accident in Nigeria last November, in winning the Mt Washington (USA).
Both will come under strong challenges from the cream of European mountain runners.
Anna will have World Silver medallist and last months Grand Prix winner Martina Strachl (SUI) to contend with, not to mention Sustarsic (SLO), Evertsen (NOR), and Guillot (FRA), all showing their strong 2006 form.

Gaiardo is without doubt the dominant European mountain runner and his challengers will need to move up their performance a notch to take his title. Vincente Capitan (ESP) who only competes infrequently in mountain races could prove to be the dark horse and spring a surprise.

There is an encouraging entry for the junior races which will take place on an experimental basis for the first time this year, especially since federations are responsible for all their costs including travel and accommodation. It is hoped that with this response the EAA will introduce junior races into the championship format in the future