Italian team triumphed at 13th WMRA World Long Distance Mountain Running 2016.
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It was a bright and sunny morning for the start of the 13th World Mountain Running Association (WMRA) Long Distance Mountain Running Championships in Podbrdo, Slovenia today.Italy&rsquo,s Alessandro Rambaldini was victorious in a record-setting time of 3:44:52, leading his national team to capture team gold. With fellow countryman Marco De Gasperi taking second in 3:46:12, and Fabio Ruga in 14th timed in 4:01:15, the combined score resulted in a time of 11:32:19, more than five minutes of the second place team from Great Britain, led by top finisher for the GBR team, Tom Owens in 4th position with a time of 3:49:34.
Italy won medal table with 5 medals (3 gold, 2 silver) in front of Great Britain and N. I. with 3 medals (1 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze). ,
Took medals also Slovenia with 3 medals (1 silver and 2 bronze) and Germany with 1 medal (1 bronze). ,
From the 8:00 a.m. start until the first finisher crossed the line, there were numerous position changes and developing strategies throughout the challenging 42-kilometer race.
" "With a mixture of technical terrain, complete with rocks and mud, the footing was challenging on many parts of the course. Those with tentative descending skills were quickly left behind by those who were more sure-footed. ,The climbs were long and steep, some referred to them as unrelenting.The short paved road sections allowed for a longer stride, but also required gear changes. ,
The best runners on the day were those who were proficient in all types of mountain running technique.
The course took its toll with early race leader Andy Wacker (USA) dropping out of the race at 28 kilometers. Wacker took the race out at a solid pace and at the top of the first long climb, had gapped the field by nearly four minutes. It was a pace he couldn&rsquo,t maintain due to the residual effects of a stomach bug he battled the past week. ,
After Wacker dropped, the race, like that of the women, took on a different light with many position changes throughout the race. ,
In spite of a solid performance by Mitja Kosovelj (SLO) who finished in third position with a time of 3:46:33, the host country was just shy of a medal finishing in fourth for the team scoring. ,
Germany captured bronze with a combined time of 11:56:57 to Slovenia&rsquo,s 12:11:11. ,
On the women&rsquo,s side, the race lead shifted numerous times throughout the day with a come-from-behind finish for Annie Conway (GBR) in a course record time of 4:29:01. ,
Less than a minute back was second-place finisher Antonella Confortola (ITA), in 4:29:58, followed by Lucija Krkoc (SLO) in third with a time of 4:30:43.
It was all Italy for team gold with the talented and deep women&rsquo,s squad finishing in second, fourth and ninth overall posting a winning score of 13:48:18.
In silver medal position was Slovenia just over ten minutes back in 13:59:51, followed by bronze medalists Great Britain with a time of 14:04:02. ,
There were 22 countries participating in this year&rsquo,s championships. ,
,Edited from Nancy Hobbs (WMRA Treasurer) ,
Source of the pictures (LOC): ,
,on front page:
,- women flower ceremony,
,on second page:
,- Rambaldini winner,
,- Conway winner.
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,- Conway winner.