Video of the track.
A video has been shot for the WMRT 2004 with which the LOC presents Sauze d’Oulx and some of the most significant views of the WMRT courses. The video lasts 12 minutes. Please note: the video is a .mov file. You can download it by clicking on the following link:
http://www.wmrt2004.org/en_video.htm
Grand Prix winners head for Athens.
Anna Pichtrova (CZE) and Jonathan Wyatt (NZL) confirmed their fine form in preparation for their Olympic marathons in Athens by winning the 2nd WMRA Grand Prix race in Heiligenblut, Austria on 18th July.
Anna
News of an Uphill mountain race on Mt Skaala
WMRA have received some interesting information about mountain running in Norway. There is an organisation for endurance sports in Norway called KONDIS who are staging a mountain race in the Jostedalsbreen National Park on August 14th.
The race is over 8.2km and there is a height difference of 1,818m. It will be staged on Mt Skaala the highest mountain in the Nordfjord region.
Anyone interested in visiting this beautiful region may find more details of the race by visiting web page www.skaala.no
This announcement is a result of the WMRA commitment to the promotion of mountain running throughout the world, and particularly in those countries who have not been involved in the international mountain running movement.
Mountain runners successes.
Mountain runners have recorded some significant successes in road marathon races recently.
Jonathan Wyatt (NZL – World Mountain Running Champion 1999, 2000 and 2002) has been selected to run for New Zealand in the Olympic marathon.
Svetlana Demidenko (RUS – 2002 champion recorded an excellent time of 2 hours 33 minutes when finishing 9th in the London marathon. In the same race, Melissa Moon (NZL – champion 2001 & 2003) finished 24th in a time of 2 hours 44 minutes. Our 2001 Bronze medallist Billy Burns (ENG) just missed the Olympic qualifying time when recording 2 hours 16 minutes, finishing 21st in the London marathon. It is pleasing to see that our top mountain running specialists can perform well in other athletic disciplines.
The results of the first races on the WMRA calendar are now published.
The results of the first WMRA Grand Prix race at Meltina (Italy) can be found via the link to that race on our web page. The Grand Prix ranking after one event is published on our web page under ‘Results’ The results of the ‘1st International Rock of Gibraltar mountain race’, won by European champion Marco Gaiardo (Italy) and Anna Pichtrova (Czech R) can be seen via the link to that event on the wmra web page.
Regulations now in German language
The rules and regulations concerning the 2004 WMRA Grand Prix have been translated into German and appear on the WMRA Grand Prix web page.
The 2004 WMRA newsletter is now available for distribution
WMRA publish a newsletter each year which is distributed worldwide by the IAAF. It is also sent to the team management of countries entering the World Mountain Running Trophy or the European mountain running championships for distribution to their international athletes.
This year, for the first time, we are making it available to those interested and registered on our web page news. To receive your copy send 5€.
Web page now available.
For details of the Rock of Gibraltar international mountain race visit their web page www.gaaa.gi
The organisers are offering accommodation free of charge to a limited number of athletes.
These places will be aloocated on a first come first served basis when providing evidence of booked travel arrangements. Applications should be sent to me at dannyhughes1@aol.com
You may send your entry for the race via the web page.
Invited athletes will be notified separately of the arrangements that have been made for them.
New WMRA Championship introduced for 2004.
Mountain races over long distances are very popular, the most famous races attracting thousands of competitors. The winners of these spectacular events are tremendous athletes in this specialisation.
WMRA have discussed for some years the possibility of having an official championship for long distance mountain runners, the aim being to bring together all the worlds best athletes into one event each year thereby giving them the worldwide recognition they deserve.
The IAAF (International Association of Athletic Federations) have now included mountain running as part of ‘,Athletics’, at their 2003 Congress in Paris, and this has given added impetus to the WMRA discussions.
Now, after consultation with the organisers of some of the most famous long distance mountain races, a set of regulations governing a championship have been drawn up and these are published on our web page under the ‘,Rules’, section.
It gives us great pleasure to announce that the first edition of the WMRA Long Distance Mountain Running Championships will be incorporated into the Sierre –,Zinal in Switzerland race this year. The race takes place on August 8th and entry to the race in the normal way automatically enters you for the Championship.
Hundreds of photograph from ‘The Sports Section’
Enjoy a few hours scanning the hundreds of dramatic photgraphs taken by professional photographers at the 2003 World Mountain Running Trophy in Alaska.
They are avaiable for purchase if you wish.
The web address is, www.photoreflect.com/scripts/prsm.dll?EventFrame?event=004M00E5.