Jonathan Wyatt, (New Zealand ) winning men's World Mountain Running Trophy (© WMRA)
The 18th World Mountain Running Trophy was contested between 13 - 15 September in Innsbruck, Austria, with results indicating the increasing world-wide appeal of this event.
The weather conditions could not have been much worse with cold temperatures, rain and even snow falling on the competitors in the junior and senior races. The event was on an “uphill” point-to-point course.
Turkey, led by Türkan Erismis, took a surprise junior women’s team title ahead of Germany, while the individual victory went to Russia’s Victoria Ivanova. While in the junior men’s competition there were individual and team triumphs for Italy, with the team brought home by Stefano Scaini.
If Turkey had been the surprise package in the junior ranks, New Zealand was the dominant force where senior honours were concerned. Second place in the women’s team trophy behind Italy, they also won the individual men’s race through the impressive performance of Jonathan Wyatt.
Confirming the increasing global nature of this running discipline, Mexico’s Ranulfo Sanchez took third place in the Men’s individual.
Overall, 35 countries took part in the Trophy, an increase of five from when the 17th World Mountain Running Trophy was contested. With countries as distant and disparate as Ecuador and Nepal represented in Innsbruck, the Trophy is really coming of age.
On 16 September, the day after the completion of competition, a World Mountain Running Development Seminar was held with the cooperation of the International Athletics Foundation at which 22 delegates from 16 countries were represented.
18th World Mountain Running Trophy
13-15 September 2002 - Berlauf, Innsbruck, Austria.
Junior Women
1 Ivanova Victoria 1988 RUS 21:00,
2 Vetsch Lea 1983 SUI 21:10,
3 Reisinger Lisa 1984 GER 21:18,1
4 Sandbichler Maria 1983 AUT 21:29,6
5 Erismis Türkan 1984 TUR 21:45,8
6 Karakoc Yeter 1987 TUR 22:00,6
7 Kosovelj Mateja 1988 SLO 22:13,1
8 Beltrando Michela 1983 ITA 22:14,9
Team -
1. Turkey 11 pts.
2. Germany 12
3. Austria 17.
Junior Men
1 Scaini Stefano 1983 ITA 50:45,4
2 Kreisinger Jan 1984 CZE 51:18,5
3 Dorszynski Grzegorz 1983 POL 51:32,4
4 Toninelli Antonio 1984 ITA 51:44,1
5 Erben Libor 1983 CZE 52:07,8
6 Galler Michael 1984 GER 52:31,4
7 Kosovelj Mitja 1984 SLO 52:52,7
8 Orlandi Luca 1984 ITA 53:02,7
Team
1. Italy 13pts.
2. Slovenia 28
3. Germany 36.
Senior Women
1 253 Demidenko Svetlana 1976 RUS 52:16,6
2 175 Confortola Antonella 1975 ITA 54:15,7
3 233 Zatorska Izabela 1962 POL 54:44,6
4 203 Burt Moana 1980 NZL 55:12,3
5 109 Guillot Isabelle 1961 FRA 55:43,1
6 204 Crumpton Shireen 1970 NZL 56:09,3
7 176 Baronchelli P. Angela 1972 ITA 56:13,3
8 270 Mudge Angela 1970 SCO 56:35,6
Team
1. Italy 22 pts
2. New Zealand 32
3. France 37
Senior Men
1 Wyatt Jonathan 1972 NZL 56:31,1
2 Fontaine Raymond 1979 FRA 1:00:05,7
3 Sanchez Ranulfo 1971 MEX 1:00:12,5
4 Cox Martin 1969 ENG 1:00:14,7
5 Gaiardo Marco 1970 ITA 1:00:18,5
6 Vanko Miroslav 1975 SVK 1:00:34,2
7 Matanin Marcel 1973 SVK 1:00:35,7
8 Molinari Antonio 1967 ITA 1:00:55,6
Team
1. Italy 37pts.
2. Solvakia 55.
3. France 61.
