Gray and Erholtz win NACAC Mountain Running Titles 2010.

Joseph Gray and Brandy Erholtz, both of the USA, were victorious at the 7^th North American Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) Mountain Running Championships on July 9th, 2010.

Canadians Taylor Murphy and Ivan Babikov rounded out the podium on the men's side.

American Megan Lund and Canadian Maria Zambrano were the second and third women respectively.

In the photo NACAC winning USA women's team: left to right: Christine Lundy, Brandy Erholtz, Megan Lund.

women put in a commanding performance to win the NACAC women's race.

In the men's race, the American men led early with the Canadian men close behind. Joseph Gray

established an early lead on the first ascent and never looked back, finishing nearly 30 seconds ahead of his closest competitors.

The final ascent, the steepest and most demanding terrain on the course, proved decisive for the team finish, with Adrian Lambert passing Brandon Lord in the final 100m to ensure a Canadian victory over the Americans.

Ivan Babikov is a Russian-born Canadian cross country skier who has been competing since 2002. At the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, he earned his best Olympic finish of 13th in the 15 km + 15 km double pursuit, representing Russia.

In the women's race, the USA team proved too strong for the Canadians, with three of the top four positions being filled by the American women.
Maria Zambrano, third at the finish, is Canadian/Colombian and currently resides in Ecuador. She has qualified to run for the Canadian Mountain Running team in Slovenia, but the two selected Canadian runners for NACAC Championships were Emily Solsberg and Amy Golumbia.

The event was held at the Canmore Nordic Centre in Canmore, Alberta, after grizzly bear activity on the Nakiska Ski Resort forced the organizers to make a last-minute course change.

The final course was approximately 7.5 km long, with 600m of ascent and 130m of descent.

Full results : http://www.mountainrunning.ca/news.php?id=41

Team scores:

MEN

1. Canada: 2 3 5 (7) = 10 (Taylor Murphy, Adrian Lambert, Kristopher Swanson and Jason Loutitt)

2. USA: 1 4 6 (8) = 11 (Joseph Gray, Brandon Lord, Zac Freudenburg and Tim Smith)

WOMEN

1. USA: 1 2 (3) = 3 (Brandy Erholtz, Megan Lund and Christine Lundy)

2. Canada: 4 5 = 9 (Emily Solsberg and Amy Golumbia)

Event website: www.canmorechallenge.com

Canadian Mountain Running Website: http://www.mountainrunning.ca/

(courtesy photos of Janet Lord).

NACAC men's champion Joseph Gray (USA)

Kristopher Swanson (CAN) approaching the finish.

by Adrian Lambert