Winter conditions on the Skaala WMRA Grand Prix race
"
Antonella Confotola, Italy and John Sombol, Kenya won the 5th WMRA Grand Prix race in Skaala Uphill in Norway.
Sombol was only 5 seconds ahead of Jonathan Wyatt, New Zealand, six times World mountain running champion. Despite tough winter weather conditions 1500 participants (new record) finished the 8th edition of the 8,2 km long extreme mountain running race with a total climb 1814 meters." " Before the race some international runners asked why a rucksack was obligatory.
After the race they didn't ask about that anymore, but were very happy to have enough warm clothes on the finish line 1848 meters above sea level at the summit of the Skaala mountain. All participants in the competition class had to carry a rucksack /backpack/ weighing at least 2,5 kilos with warm clothes (and some food) for the race (both up and down!) because it could be cold at the top. It was the toughest and most winter weather conditions in 8 year's history of the race.
Story and all photos: Christian Prestegard
See more photos on: http://www.kondis.no/motbakke/index.php?aid=86817&,k=motbakke%2Fmotbakke&,mid
"
Sombol was only 5 seconds ahead of Jonathan Wyatt, New Zealand, six times World mountain running champion. Despite tough winter weather conditions 1500 participants (new record) finished the 8th edition of the 8,2 km long extreme mountain running race with a total climb 1814 meters." "
After the race they didn't ask about that anymore, but were very happy to have enough warm clothes on the finish line 1848 meters above sea level at the summit of the Skaala mountain. All participants in the competition class had to carry a rucksack /backpack/ weighing at least 2,5 kilos with warm clothes (and some food) for the race (both up and down!) because it could be cold at the top. It was the toughest and most winter weather conditions in 8 year's history of the race.
Story and all photos: Christian Prestegard
See more photos on: http://www.kondis.no/motbakke/index.php?aid=86817&,k=motbakke%2Fmotbakke&,mid
RESULTS:
Ladies:
| 1. | Antonella CONFORTOLA, ITA | 1.26,35 |
| 2. | Iva MILESOVA, CZE | 1.27,00 |
| 3. | Guro Flatekval, NOR | 1.27,05 |
| 4. | May Britt BUER, NOR | 1.27,50 |
| 5. | Tuva Staver TOFTDAL, NOR | 1.31,42 |
| 6. | Merete HELGHEIM, NOR | 1.33,49 |
| 7. | Therese SJURSEN, NOR | 1.34,52 |
| 8. | Norunn StAVO, NOR | 1.38,39 |
| 9. | Helene PEMMER, NOR | 1.39,00 |
| 10. | Elisabeth HILDENES, NOR | 1.39,43 |
Men:
| 1. | John SOMBOL, KEN | 1.09,55 |
| 2. | Jonathan WYATT, NZL | 1.10,00 |
| 3. | David SCHNEIDER, SUI | 1.10,50 |
| 4. | Jon DUNCAN, GBR | 1.11,07 |
| 5. | Sammy KIRUI, KEN | 1.12,31 |
| 6. | Joseph GRAY, USA | 1.12,48 |
| 7. | Ø,ystein SYLTA, NOR | 1.13,31 |
| 8. | Kristen SKJELDAL, NOR | 1.14,10 |
| 9. | Sindre BURAAS, NOR | 1.14,41 |
| 10. | Rickey GATES, USA | 1.14,57 |