Author: wmra_wp

“Uganda dominated 6. African Mountain Running Championships but victory at the Obudu race was for Kenya and Ethiopia runners.
Kenyan Kembol Hillary Kipkorir won the tenth edition of Obudu race (clocked 1hr&nbsp,02 minutes and 34 seconds) in front of&nbsp, second Ethiopian Negera Abebe Dinkesa (first in 2012 and 2010, second in in 2013 and third in in 2009) with 1:03.09 and third Ugandan&nbsp, Kiplimo Philip, ith 1:03.19.
In the women race the winner was &ndash, for another time (she won also in 2013 and 2011, for sample) – the Ethiopian Kassahun Genet Yalew (clocked 1hr 1minute and 20 seconds) in front of the junior world champion 2014, Ugandan Stella Chesang (with 1:01.31). Third finished another Ethiopian Ababel Yesshaneh with 1:03.03.
”
“

In the 6. African Mountain Running Championships Uganda won 4 gold medals and 2 silver medals, Kenya kept 1 silver and 2 bronze, instead Eritrea gained 1 silver and 1 bronze and hosting nation Nigeria won&nbsp,1 bronze medal.&nbsp,
In the detail, men African Mountain Running Champion 2014 is Philip Kiplimo, who finished with time of 1hr 3 mns and 19 second, just 5 second better than his teammate Isaac Kiprop (1:03.24) and 15 second in front of the bronze medallist Eritrean Petro Mamu Shaku (who clocked 1:03.34). Fourth was Ugandan Geoffey Kusuro (1:04.37), fifth Eritrean Frezghi Tsegay G. (1:05.42), sixth Kenyan Nicholas Kipngetich (1:06.59), seventh Kenyan Hosea Nailel (1:09.15), eighth Eritrean Abraham Kidane Habtom (1:10.32) night Kenyan Joseph Okello (1:11.48 followed by three Nigerian runners. In the order Emmanuel Gyang (ten place with 1:15.23), Gideon Goyet (eleven place with 1:16.12) and Cletus Eyo (twelve place with 1.18.47)
African men team title was won by Uganda team with 7 points, second and silver medal was Eritrea with 16 points, third and bronze medal was Kenya with 22 points. Nigeria team finished in four place with 33 point.
Due the fact that Ethiopia had not sent an official team for the African Championships, world junior champion 2014, Ugandan Stella Chesang was crowned like African women Champion 2014.&nbsp, For the same reason her teammate Chebet Rachael Zena won silver medal in the African Championships (finished fourth in the overall result of Obudu race with 1:03.03) and Kenyan Jepchirchir Peres won bronze medal with 1:05.04.&nbsp, The best Nigerian runner Deborah Pam arrived fourth with 1:10.09, followed by Kenyan Joscah Moraa Obare in five place (time 1:10.34), by Ugandan Chekwemboi Patricia in six place (time 1:10.54), by the best Cameroon&rsquo,s runner Tatah Carine in seven place (time 1:11.45). In the top ten finished also Kenyan Judy Chepsolyo eighth (time 1:13.43), Cameroons Ngwaya Yvonne night (time 1:13.45) and Nigerian Michael Lydia tenth (time 1:17.33). in the final result in eleven place there was the Cameroon&rsquo,s runner Ngalim Lissette (time 1:19.15) and in twelve place the Nigerian runner Machu Jacinta (time 1:19.40).
On the basis of the individual result of the African Championships, Uganda on African Mountain Running Championships 2014 with&nbsp,9 points in front of&nbsp,Kenya that took silver medal with 16 points and of&nbsp,Nigeria that kept bronze medal with 26 points. Cameroun closed team result with fourth place and&nbsp,27 points.
Event was &ndash, as every year &ndash, a great competition, one of the best in the WMRA annual calendar.
Obudu race was the tenth edition and the partecipation of top runners was the best aspect for celebrating this important anniversary.
But all hopes that this competition will go on in the future always at the same level or if possible also better!

&nbsp,

Edited from Bruno Gozzelino (WMRA)

Source of the pictures (Otu Kadana and Ojo Aderinsola by LOC):
on front page:
– Winner men Kenyan Kembol Hillary Kipkorir
on second page:
– Winner women Ethiopian Kassahun Genet Yalew.

“

“Six African Nations will be present at the 6. African Mountain Running Championships 2014: Cameroon, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda and, of course, hosting Country Nigeria.&nbsp,&nbsp,Three of tem have female and male team (Uganda, Kenya and Nigeria), instead Cameroon has only team in the women race and Eritrea has only team in the men race. Ethiopia will be present with strong runners but not with official national team competing in the African Mountain Running Championships.
Two world champion 2014 and one winner of World Cup 2014 will run at the African Mountain Running Championships that will be held at Obudu Ranch Cattle on November 8th, 2014: Ugandian Isaac Kiproc (world senior men champion) and Stella Chesang (world junior women champion) and Eritrean Petro Mamu, winner of World Cup 2014.”
“The battle for African titles will be very interesting.
Abebe Dinkesa Negera together Terefa Debela Delesa and Alemu Hunegnaw&nbsp, Mesfin try to win the title in the men race against strong runners from Uganda, Eritrea and Kenya.Nigerian and Cameroon runners hope to be a surprise in the race.
World Mountain running champion Isaac Kiprop will be leading team Uganda to the Obudu Mountain race, which will at the same time serve as the Africa Mountain Running championship. Kiprop, who is making a comeback to international running beat a field of runners from Eritrea and Italy&nbsp, to win his first&nbsp, world title on his debut&nbsp, at Cassette di Massa in Italy&nbsp, over a month ago.
The Policeman will be joined by Geoffrey Kusuro, who missed the world event because he had just competed in a half marathon and Philip Kiplimo. Kusuro is Uganda&rsquo,s top performer at the World Mountain running event winning medals at both the junior and senior category.
Uganda will also enter a full women’s team that will have Patricia Chekwemboi, Rachael Chebet Zena and Stella Chesang, winner of the girls&rsquo, junior event at the world event at Casette di Massa over a month ago.
The Uganda team will however battle against&nbsp, an Eritrean team, led by&nbsp, winner of the 16th WMRA World Cup final, Petro Mamu Shaku&nbsp, and&nbsp, formed also by Frezghi Tsegay Gebreselasie and Abraham Kidane Haktom.
But also Ethiopian team seems to be very strong led by Kassahun Genet Yalew together her fellows, Arabel Yeshaneh Brinane and Meserat Taye Asefaw.
The Obudu race, very well organised by William Archibong together his staff, is one of the greatest race in the world and this year the top runners present show this&nbsp, to all.

&nbsp,

Edited from BrunoGozzelino (WMRA)

Source of thepictures (from LOC):
on frontpage:
– pictures of Obudu race 2012.

&nbsp,

“

“Arnaud Bonin, Cedric Fleureton&nbsp, and Julien Rancon&nbsp, are the members of the France team who won the&nbsp,&nbsp, 57. Trofeo&nbsp, Vanoni 2014 at Morbegno (Italy).&nbsp,&nbsp,
It was the second time that France won this competition and France is the only nation (except of course Italy) that have won Trofeo Vanoni for more than one time.
In the female competition Alice Gaggi, world champion 2013, won for the second time the race and failed record of the race for only seven seconds!
A wonderful day and &ndash, as always&ndash, numerous spectators applauded the performance of the athletes: 403 men and 64 women!
As usual very good was the organisation of CSI Morbegno, LOC of the event.
”
“After regional races for children and young runners, at 11.00 the female competition started.
During the uphill section of the race leader was Czech Pavla Schorna, followed by Slovenian Mateja Kosovelj, whilst Alice Gaggi kept third position in front of other Italian Samantha Galassi and a group of Irish, Scottish, Welsh and English runners. Then in downhill part of the race the situation changed and Gaggi crossed over the other two runners, finishing her race in 21 minutes and 48 seconds (just seven seconds worse than the record of the competition). Schorna arrived eleven second behind, instead Irish Sarah Macormack finished third with 22:21. Galassi maintained her fourth place with 22:38. A group with Scottish Charlotte Morgan (23:16.), Slovenian Mateja Kosovelj (23:20.) and English Lindsey Brundle (23:22) arrived immediately after and in the top ten finished also Welsh Heidi Davies (eighth&nbsp, with 23:38), Italian Roberta Ciappini (ninth with 23:49) and Polish Danut Woszczek (tenth with 23:56.)
On the afternoon, the 57.&nbsp, Trofeo Vanoni started with more than 135 relays at the start line.
Alex Baldaccini, who at the end run the fastest stage of whole Trofeo Vanoni with 29minutes and 27 seconds finished first stage for his team G. S Orobie in first position, followed by second Luca Cagnati (club Atletica Valli Bergamasche), third French Cedric Fleureton, fourth Slovenian team with Mitja Kosovelj. Club Podistica Valle Varaita with Manuel Solavaggione in first stage arrived in seventh place after first third of the competition.
In the second stage French Team was able to keep leading position that maintained also with its third runner. Behind French runners, the twins Martin and Bernard Dematteis crossed over all the other competitors and their Club Podistica Valle Varaita finished second at the end of the Trofeo Vanoni. Atletica Valli Bergamasche (Cagnati, Zanaboni and Chevrier) arrived third before Slovenian team formed by the same runners who won Trofeo Vanoni last year 2013.
Time of the winning French team was 1 hour 29 minutes and 41 seconds, Second club clocked 1h.30:50 and third club clocked 1h31:43.
WMRA President, Bruno Gozzelino, and WMRA Council member, Andrzey Puchaczs, attended at the competition.

Edited from Bruno Gozzelino (WMRA)
&nbsp,
Source of the pictures (from LOC, first page,&nbsp,and from Francesco Lietti,second page):
&nbsp,on front page:
&nbsp,- leaflet of Trophy Vanoni 2014,
on second page:
– Alice Gaggi,
– Julien Rancon.

“

“Get ready for a parade of stars, get ready to see all national italian mountain running team.&nbsp,
This year, the GS CSI Morbegno has really outdone and Morbegno (SO), October 26, at 57th Trofeo Vanoni and 31st Vanoni female, there will be the best in Europe to compete on the legendary track that climbs up to Arzo.&nbsp,
In the press conference to present on Wednesday 15th October&nbsp, in the Council Room of City Hall Morbegno Giovanni Ruffoni gave the &quot,bombshell&quot,: &quot,This year we will also have at the starting line the Podistica Varaita Team which ranks the Dematteis twins: Bernard European champion and Martin European bronze medal, which already ran the Vanoni in 2007. &quot,&nbsp, ”
“But the champions out there, from those who have worn the italian national vest this year to Europeans,&nbsp, World and Snowdon Race: Xavier Chevrier and Luke Cagnati (Atletica Valli Bergamasche), Alex Baldaccini of GS Orobie (European vice-champion in 2013 and Vanoni record holder), Paolo Gallo and Erik Rosaire, not to mention women: Alice Gaggi (world champion in 2013 and fourth at the European Championships 2014), Alessia Zecca, Giulia Compagnoni, Roberta Ciappini (national italian team junior category) and Elisa Compagnoni.&nbsp,
Not enough for you?&nbsp,
Add Pavla Schorna (Poland) co-record ladies race holder, Mateja Kosovelj (Slovenia) silver medal at the European Championships, the Irish Sarah MacCormack (Ireland), winner of the Snowdon Race 2014 and sixth at the World Championships on 2013.
Among men, the Slovenian team,&nbsp, winner last year led by Mijtia Kosovelj (long distance world champion on 2011 and 2013), France with Julien Rancon (three times winner of the Vanoni) and the best of Britain, Wales, Czech Republic, Poland, Malta, San Marino, not to mention the hosts of the GS CSI Morbegno who last year closed in 10th place and this year deploy Marco Leoni, Giovanni Tacchini and Stefano Sansi.&nbsp,
But the Trofeo Vanoni is not only a champion parade, is a race so exceptional that manages to make its protagonists everyone from boys of the junior race (Minivanoni) to who enthusiasts compete every Sunday in the provincial and regional competitions.&nbsp,
The Vanoni is for everyone, &quot,an event to be live to 360 degrees&quot, as the president of Fidal Sondrio Mauro Rossini said &quot,because the protagonists of Vanoni are athletes, organizers and spectators.&quot,&nbsp,
A Trofeo Vanoni which is source of pride for the City of Morbegno, for the district and for the Italian Federation of Athletics, as they said in unison Mayor Andrea Ruggeri, the delegate to the sport of mountain community Paolo Croce and the director of Fidal Lombardia Alberto Rampa: &quot,Think of how many people have known Morbegno thanks to the Trofeo Vanoni, how many athletes have come to Morbegno thanks to the Trofeo Vanoni.&nbsp, A driving force for the promotion and tourism and is very effective. &quot,&nbsp,
The authorities have also emphasized the positive messages that takes an event like the Trofeo Vanoni: &quot,Not only sports, but also solidarity and brotherhood among peoples, the memory of its past in the memory of the fallen, the alpine and celebrities such as Ezio Vanoni and Mons. Edoardo Danieli and missing friends like Felice Bottani, Cirillo Luzzi, Alice Spini, Esa and Teti. &quot,&nbsp,
A Trofeo Vanoni that can be lived and relived also with the record live on www.channelmorbegno.net , the live streaming on www.gscsimorbegno.org, the special on TV by TeleSondrioNews (channel 172 of digital terrestrial) and the three pages entirely dedicated by &ldquo,Centro Valle&rdquo, into&nbsp, 1st of November edition.&nbsp, The weekly Valley Center will also be sent to all the sponsors and athletes of the Trofeo Vanoni as a tribute by the organizer.
You are all invited to a sporting event not to be missed, along the path that goes up from Morbegno to Arzo along the Via Priula and returns to the city center via the Bellini and the &ldquo,Tempietto&rdquo, or on the finish line on the boulevard of Via Vanoni where Sunday 26 October there will also be the &quot,Expo running&quot, a showcase for the companies of the sector.&nbsp,
Do not miss the parade of international runners on Saturday, October 25 at 17.30, after the deposition of the wreath at the Monument of the Fallen all the athletes will go to the Collegiate Church of St. John the Baptist for the Holy Mass with Morbegno community.&nbsp,
Because the Trofeo Vanoni is not only sport and competition, but also and above all passion, enthusiasm, solidarity and friendship.&nbsp, Friendship that, among other things, gave birth 10 years ago to Morbegno-Llanberis twnning and on the occasion of the Trofeo Vanoni will be present at Morbegno a delegation of friends led by Ken Jones, secretary of Llanberis twinning committee and creator of the Snowdon Race.
All the race informations at www.gscsimorbegno.org.

Edited from Cristina Speziale (G. S. CSI Morbegno press Officer)

Source of the pictures (from LOC):
on front page:
– start of Trophy Vanoni 2013.

“

“Runners from eleven countries gathered on the start line of the 35. Smarna gora race, the final race of the Mountain running World Cup.
Before the final race, the winners Mamu and Mayr were practically known &ndash, only theoretically Mitja and Mateja Kosovelj could jump to the first positions.
Of course, this did not happen and Andrea Mayr and Petro Mamu became the winners of the first Mountain Running World Cup.
The overall result of 16. WMRA World Cup 2014 show in men result as winner the Eritrean Petro Mamu, second was Swiss David Schnieder and third Italian Alex Baldaccini. Another iTalian runner finished in the top position that is Emanuele Mazi (fifth). But at the end, seven nations had athletes in the first ten position: Slovenia with Mitja Kosovelj (fourth), Kenya with three runners: Isaac Toroitich Kosgei (sixth), Francis Muigai Wangari (seventh) and Hirum Wandangi (ninth), British Robbie Simpson (eighth) and&nbsp, Austrian Stefan Paternoster (tenth).
Instead the overall result of 16. WMRA World Cup 2014 show in women result behind Austrian Andrea Mayr, second the Slovenian Mateja Kosovelj and third the Hungarian Timea Mer&eacute,ny.
Following in the first ten position, there were three Italian runners: Alice Gaggi (fourth), Antonella Confortola (fifth) and Valentina Belotti (seventh), then Kenyan Lucy Wambui (sixth), British Sarah Tunstall (eight), Slovenian Jana Bratina (ninth) and German Malenie Noll (tenth). So finally athletes coming from seven different countries were in the first ten position.
”
“Current World Cup leader Petro Mamu from Eritrea was the favourite No1 which was obvious from the very beginning &ndash, already in the first, flat kilometre, nobody dared to follow his high pace, so he run his own race all the way to the finish.
The only question was if he is strong enough to break the course record. His motivation was the special prize: traditionally the organizer offers 10&euro, for every second faster than the old record. But he could not fight against the nature &ndash, in spite of the ideal weather conditions the course was due to the catastrophe in winter much slower, so the men&rsquo,s record remains untouched.
The closest opponent was David Schneider from Suisse repeated his excellent second position from 2011, but still 2 minutes behind the winner.
The course record holder Italian Alex Baldaccini finished third, but followed by a group of several runners who finished all in one minute.
Like Mamu in the men&rsquo,s race, Andrea Mayr was the favourite in the women&rsquo,s race, and also leading in the WC ranking.&nbsp, Current European and World Champion had wan the Smarna gora race already 3 times and it would be big surprise if she would not win the race also in 2014.
Finally she also broke the course record for 42 seconds.
Local Mateja Kosovelj, 2013 Grand Prix winner and course record holder finished second and Alice Gaggi, 2013 world champion and Smarna gora race winner finished third.
WMRA Council on next January 2015 will discuss the format of 17. WMRA World Cup 2015. It is possible that the series of races valid could be increased like number of races included, due the fact that some traditional and very well-known competition (as, for sample, Challenge Stellina at Susa in Italy or Hochfelln Berglauf at Bergen, in Germany) probably will ask for being stage of the WMRA World Cup. The system point probably will be changed taking in consideration the real situation regarding participation of the runners and the possibility of choosing competitions. Regarding final overall prize money WMRA would try to involve also LOC of the races in this matters.
Calendar in athletics is always more full but mountain running&nbsp, discipline is always more important inside athletic activity.

Edited from Bruno Gozzelino and Tomo Sarf (WMRA)

Source of the pictures (from LOC):
on front page:
– winner of World Cup 2014,
on second page:
– Petro Mamu, Smarna Gora winner men,
– Andrea Mayr, Smarna Gora winner women.&nbsp,

“

“The International Smarna Gora Mountain Running Race remains one of the highlights of the mountain running season, and its rich tradition will continue on Saturday October 4, with its 35th edition.
Also this year the race is the exiting final of the 16th WMRA World Cup!
In the fall season of 1979 running enthusiasts from Ljubljana, Slovenia&rsquo,s capital, decided to organize a race to the top of one of the most popular mountains in Slovenia at Smarna Gora.
Nobody envisaged that it would become such a massive event with worldwide popularity.
The mountain running champions of the world will again be crowned this Saturday at this magnificent mountain peak.”
“In the early 1990s the event was the first national championships in the new state of Slovenia and later that decade, world champion Lucio Fregona (ITA) made the Smarna Gora race an internationally recognized event. After the miclass=&quot,img_border_right&quot,llennium, the Smarna Gora race became one of the founding members of the WMRA Grand Prix and since then it has been the final Grand Prix event on twelve occasions.
In the last 34 years many world championships medallists have been tested on the demanding course that takes runners 360 meters uphill to the first summit, followed by 300 meters of technical descent before a 300 meter climb to the finish.
The top men will race just over 40 minutes for this 10-kilometre course.
Next Saturday 4th October, the best mountain runners will again meet to test their strength, speed and skills.
This will be the first official WMRA meeting after the World Championships and many will strive to climb the famous podium at Smarna Gora.
This will be a tall order, as the top female runners will include current World and European Championships winner Andrea Mayr (AUT), the 2013 world champion and Smarna gora winner Alice Gaggi (ITA) and Mateja Kosovelj (SLO), 2014 European silver medallist, 6th at World Championships, defending Grand prix winner plus course record holder. Sarah Tunstall (ENG) and Antonella Confortola (ITA), both national team members, will also try to earn a spot on the podium.
In the men&rsquo,s event, Eritrean Mamu Petro will test his skills on the Smarna gora course for the first time, World Champion 2012 and World Cup current leader will do his best to keep his top position.&nbsp,
Alex Baldaccini (ITA), returns to defend his Smarna Gora title from 2012. Jonathan Wyatt, six times world champion and Smarna gora old course record holder feels this summer like reborn.&nbsp,
Mitja Kosovelj of Slovenia is well positioned to offer a strong challenge since he knows the course very well.
David Schneider (SUI) is also making a return.&nbsp,

“

“The white marble coloured the 30th edition of the World Mountain Running Championships in Casette di Massa, an unprecedented experience marked by the course winding up inside a marble cave of the famous &ldquo,Bacino di Gioia&rdquo, with the Apuan Alps and the Tirreno Sea on the backdrop.
Along the course there were thousands of spectators, including the many fans who turned up in huge numbers to give their support for the home team.
Uganda dominated the medal table winning the men&rsquo,s race where Isaac Kiprop led a medal sweep for his country, both the men&rsquo,s and women&rsquo,s junior races with Phillip Kipyeko and Stella Chesang and the men&rsquo,s senior team ranking.
Thirty-four year-old Austrian Andrea Mayr became the first runner to clinch five world titles with a dominant race.
Ten Countries (among the fourthy present)&nbsp,came back home with medals!
Uganda in total won 6 medals (four gold, one silver and one bronze).The Italian team won three medals: gold for the women&rsquo,s senior team, bronze for the men&rsquo,s senior team and silver for the men&rsquo,s junior team. The Turkish also kept three medals totally: one gold, one silver and one bronze. Other two teams won gold: Germany (1 gold and silver)&nbsp, and Austria (1 gold). USA this year had 3 medals in total:&nbsp,1 silver and 2 bronze, the Great Britain with 1 sivler and bronze, followed by Kenya (for the first time present at WMRA Corld Mountain Running Championships, as Andorra) and Eritrea with one silver each, Czech Team was able to win 2 bronze medals, finished tenth in the medal table.&nbsp,
”
“

Men&rsquo,s senior race: Uganda claimed a podium sweep in the men&rsquo,s senior race.
Isaac Kiprop took the honours in the men&rsquo,s senior race in 53:50 crowning an impressive day for the Ugandan team who won three individual gold medals. Kiprop&rsquo,s compatriot Daniel Rotich finished runner-up with 55:10: Kibet Soyekwo completed the Ugandan triumph in third place with 55:24.
Uganda dominated the men&rsquo,s team ranking with 17 points ahead of Eritrea (27 points) and Italy (55 points).
The best Italian runner was Bernard Dematteis who finished fourth for the fourth time in his career at the World Mountain Running Championships&nbsp,
Women&rsquo,s senior race: Austrian Andrea Mayr collected her fifth world title dominating the women&rsquo,s senior race from gun to tape. She won in 45:07 with a gap of&nbsp, 2:42 minutes over the next rival Lucy Murigi Wambui from Kenya becoming the most successful runner in the history of the World Championships.&nbsp,
The 34-year-old Austrian graduate in medicine celebrated her triumph dancing on the podium. Defending champion Alice Gaggi from Italy finished eighth.
US Allyson McLaughlin completed the podium in third place with 47:55.
Italy triumphed in the women&rsquo,s team ranking at senior level with 32 points beating Great Britain (41 points) and the USA (63 points).
Men&rsquo,s junior race: Uganda scored the double in junior races also winning the men&rsquo,s under 20 competition with Phillip Kipyeko who finished sixth in the 5000 metres at the World Junior Championships in Eugene where his compatriot Joshua Cheptegei, who had to pull out of the World Championships in Casette di Massa at the last moment, won the 10000m world junior gold medal.
Kipyeko showed his excellent climbing ability over the steep paths winding up through the white marble walls of the Cava di Gioia dominating the race in 40:51.
Turkish runners Ramazan Karagoz finished a distance second in 42:42 ahead of his compatriot Ferhait Bozkurt, third in 42:53. The best Italian runner was 19-year-old Nadir Cavagna who caught up positions and clawed his way back narrowly missing the podium in fourth place in 44:33.
Turkey won the team title with 12 points ahead of Italy (34 points)&nbsp,and Great Britain (47 points).

Women&rsquo,s junior race: Uganda&rsquo,s Stella Chesang, fourth at the World Junior Championships in the 5000 metres in Eugene, won the junior gold medal at the World Mountain Running Championships becoming the first athlete to carve her name on the marble of the Apuan Alps.&nbsp,The Ugandan runner&nbsp, dominated the race taking the lead from the very beginning and changing gear inside the amazing white tunnel in the white cave. Chesang crossed the finish line in 19:23 with a lead of more than one minute over second placer Sarah Kistner from Germany (20:38). Another runner from Europe, Czech Republic&rsquo,s Michaela Stranska finished third with 21:01.
Germany won the women&rsquo,s junior title (8 points) beating the US&nbsp, team (12 points), who was led by former world junior champion Mandy Ortiz, who crossed the finished fourth in 21:23, and Czech Repuplic (12 points).
During closing cerimony at Piazza Aranci, main square of Massa, in front of historical Palazzo Ducale, WMRA President, Bruno Gozzelino, together IAAF representant, Otto Klappert, passed the WMRA flag from Italian LOC W. Ch. 2014 with its President, Mr. Alfio Giomi, FIDAL President, to Councillor Graham Rees, Conwy Council Cabinet Member for Tourism, Marketing and Leisure, to Mrs. Sara Jones Senior Marketing Officer, Corporate Communications and Marketing, and to Mr. Steve Brace, Head of Events Delivery, Welsh Athletics all member of the delegation for&nbsp,next 31. World Mountain Running Championships 2015 at Betws Y Coed (Great Britain) on September 19th, 2015.&nbsp,

&nbsp,

Edited from Organisers

&nbsp,

Source of the pictures
on front page:
– Isaac Kiprop, senior men champion (by FIDAL/Colombo),
on second page:
– Andrea Mayr, senior women champion (by FIDAL/Colombo,
– Phillip Kipyeko, junior men champion (by Patrizia Longo)
– Stella Chesang, junior women champio (by FIDAL/Colombo),
– Giomi, Brace, Rees and Gozzelino with WMRA flag (by Patrizia Longo).

“

“

It&rsquo,s just a few days to go to the World Mountain Running Championships on 14th September in Casette di Massa in the Italian region of Tuscany on the amazing backdrop of the Apuan Alps.
The 30th edition of these Championships will be staged on a &ldquo,only-up&rdquo, course which will go through a cave of the famous &ldquo,Bacino di Gioia&rdquo, in the final section of the course.
Here the marble, which gave shape to many masterpieces of Italian art, is extracted.
The World Championships will feature almost 400 athletes from 40 countries from the five Continents.
It&rsquo,s the eighth time that this event is held in Italy, which boasts a long tradition in this discipline.
On Saturday 13th September the Opening Ceremony of the 2014 World Mountain Championships will be highlighted by the delivery of a block of marble, from which Italian artist Fabio Viale will carve the statue dedicated to Pietro Mennea which will be located at the Stadio dei Marmi in Rome which is already named after the former 200 metres Olympic champion and World record holder.
Look a video presentation of the race: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puQfeacB9LA#t=26

”
“WOMEN&rsquo,S SENIOR RACE – No less than 86 women runners will line up in the 8.4 km (with a drop of 465 metres).
Reigning world champion Alice Gaggi will defend her title, but the kind of course makes Andrea Mayr the strong favourite.
The Austrian marathon record holder is the reigning European champion and has&nbsp, already won four world titles. She won her last title in Temu-Ponte di Legno in the last edition staged on Italian soil in 2012.
Among her opponents there will be the US runner Allison McLaughlin, who will line up one month after the win at the World Long Distance Championships in Colorado.
At individual level the names to watch are British runner Emma Clayton (second in 2013), Slovenia&rsquo,s Mateja Kosovelj (European silver medallist in 2014), Kenyan Lucy Wambui Murigi and twice European champion Martina Strahl from Switzerland.
The favourite teams for the team podium are Austria, Switzerland, Italy, gold medallist in 2013, Great Britain and the United States.
MEN&rsquo,S SENIOR RACE – Uganda claimed a podium sweep dominating the 2013 edition of the World Mountain Championships at both Individual and team level. Only the bronze medallist from the previous edition Nathan Akeyo will be in the race this time, together with his compatriots Daniel Rotich and James Kibet.
The man to beat in Casette di Massa is Eritrean Pietro Mamo, the current leader of the World Cup and World champion two years ago in the last edition held in Italy.
Also in the line-up in the 11.7 km (with a drop of 650 metres and with 165 entered runners) his teammate Abraham Kidane, Italian Bernard Dematteis (reigning European champion and fifth place in 2013) and Turkey&rsquo,s Ahmet Arslan, more time European champion.
The favourite teams which will fight for the top honours are also Great Britain with Robbie Simpson and the Unites States with Joseph Gray.
JUNIOR WOMEN&rsquo,S RACE (3.8 km, drop 225m, 44 entered runners) – The top names are Uganda&rsquo,s Stella Chesang, who finished fourth in the 5000 metres at the World Junior Championships in Eugene, her compatriot Patricia Chekwemboi (Uganda) and 2013 World Junior champion Amanda Ortiz from USA.
But also European athletes will have ambitions, like Great Britain&rsquo,s Georgia Malir, 2014 European Junior champion, Turkey&rsquo,s Bahar Atalay and Burcu Subatan, Romanian Andrea Piscu and France&rsquo,s Elsa Racasan, winner at the WMRA Youth Cup in Arco in 2014 and Russian Olga Nikolayeva (9:27 in the 3000 metres).
The countries who will aim for the team honours will be Uganda, Great Britain, Turkey, the USA and Russia.
MEN&rsquo,S JUNIOR RACE (8.4 km, drop 465m, 77 entered runners) – Uganda has a strong squad including Joshua Cheptegei, World Junior champion in the 10000m, joined by his compatriots Phillip Kipkeyo, who finished sixth at the World Junior Championships in Eugene, and Abdallah Mande, fifth in the 5000m at the WJC.
Other youngsters to follow will be Czech runner Dominik Sadlo (European champion in 2014), Turkey&rsquo,s Ramazan Karagoz, second at the 2013 World Championships, and Ferhat Bozkurt, second at the 2014 European Championships, as well Manuel Innerhofer from Austria.
The favourite teams for the podium will be Uganda, Czech Republic, Turkey, Italy and Great Britain.

&nbsp,

Edited from Alessio Giovannini (FIDAL Press Office).

Source of the pictures by LOC.
On front page:&nbsp,
– view of the finish part of the track, –
on second page:
– training on the track

“

“More than eight hundred masters entries and 755 of them finished the race at the 14. WMRA/WMA Master Championships, held on Saturday, September 6th, at Telfes (Austria).
26 Nations had athletes at the finish of the competition: Austria, Germany, Italy, Poland, USA, Slovakia, New Zealand, Ireland, France, Norway, Lithuania, Nederland, Slovenia, Czech, Spain, Finland, Great Britain, Russia, Hungary, Switzerland, Belgium, Sweden, Australia, Ukraine, UAE and Malaysia.
Very interesting is the fact that 16 Nations had at least one master on the podium.
Germany and Italy won both 11 gold medals (and both gained four individual titles and seven team titles): Germany kept also 10 silver and seven bronze for a total of 28 medals, instead Italy won 5 silver and 10 bronze for a total of 26 medals.
Just behind these two Teams there was host Country Austria: Austrian Masters were able to obtain a total of 15 medals: 7 gold (5 individual and 2 team), 5 silver and 3 bronze.
The National anthem of Czech Rep., USA, Australia, Slovakia and Sweden sound at Telfes for celebrating the victory of one master of each these nations.
Eight Nations won at least one gold medal. Czech rep, was fourth in the medal table with 7 medal in total (1 gold, 2 silver and 4 bronze), USA won 2 medals (1 gold and 1 silver), instead Australia, Slovakia and Sweden won the only one gold medal. Swiss&nbsp, team had 4 silver medals, Great Britain 1 silver and 4 bronze, New Zealand 1 silver and 1 bronze, Poland, Slovenia, France and Russia won 1 silver each and finally Ireland had 3 bronze medals.”
“

Only two runners was able to confirm their world title of the previous year: Ann Marie Jones (W60) and Wilhelm Dengler (GER – W55).
The new master world mountain running champion 2014 are in the female categories: Petra Summer (AUT&ndash,W35), Jutta Brod (GER-W40), Simonetta Menestrina (ITA-W45), Irmi Kubicka (AUT-W50), Karoline Dohr (AUT-W55), Susan Archer (AUS-W65), Helga Pongratz (AUT-W70) and Maria Marcibalova (SVK-W75).
The new master world mountain running champion 2014 are in the male categories: Eric&nbsp, Blake (USA&ndash,M35), Daniele De Col&ograve, (ITA-M40), Robert Stark (AUT-M45), Franco Torresani (ITA-M50), Milos Smrcka (CZE-M60), Ivo Andrich (ITA-M65), Helmut Reitmeir (GER-W70) and Georg Gross (GER-M75).
Petra Summer signed the best time among the women with 44 minutes and 49 seconds.
In the male on the long track the time was realised by Eric Blake in 59 minutes and 32 seconds: he was the only runners under one hour! On the short track the best time was sigtned by Wilhelm Dengler in 42 minutes and 47 seconds.The weather on the day of competition was very good and the track of the race were perfect&nbsp, for the event.
The scenery of the mountains around was fantastic: all the participant come back home satisfied and send their congratulations to LOC!
Many people like spectators were present on live to the event.
WMRA was present at the Championships with Bruno Gozzelino President, Nancy Hobbs, Treasurer, Wolfgang Munzel and Tomo Sarf, Council members.
OELV sent to attend the competition Mr. Hubert Lang, &Ouml,LV Vice President &ldquo,Non Stadia &amp, Masters&ldquo, and Mr. Helmut Schmuck, Chairman of the Austrian Mountain Running Commission.
At the end of the prize ceremony WMRA flag passed to Mr. Steve Brace, Chairman of LOC of the 15. WMRA/WMA Master World Mountain Running Championships 2015 on Saturday September, 12th at Betws Y Coed (Wales).
Video and pictures of the event at www.stubai-bilder.at/bilder/category/149-masters-telfes-2014.

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Edited from Bruno Gozzelino (WMRA)

Source of the pictures LOC
On front page:
– master on the track,
On second page:
– master in action,
– interview to Helmut Schmuck,
– pass the flag to LOC 2015: Gozzelino and Brace with WMRA flag.

“

“Entries are expected from nearly&nbsp,900 runners, representing about 30 Nations,&nbsp,for the 14. WMRA/WMA World Mountain Running Championship 2014, that will be held on next Saturday, September, 6.
Runners coming form about thirty Nations will run at the beautiful venue in the Tyrol Region.
Present at the competition will&nbsp,be Mr. Bruno Gozzelino, WMRA President, Mr. Wolfgang Munzel, WMRA Delegate, Mr. Tomo Sarf , WMRA Council member, and Mrs. Nancy Hobbs, WMRA Treasurer, who also will compete in the Championships.
Austria Athletics Federation will be present in Telfes with Mr. Hubert Lang, &Ouml,LV Vice President &bdquo,Non Stadia &amp, Masters&ldquo, and with Mr., Helmut Schmuck, Chairman of the Austrian Mountain Running Commission.”

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Edited from Nancy Hobbs (WMRA)

Source of the pictures Nancy Hobbs:
On front page:
– a section of the track: 10km to the finish.