South AmerS.American Mountain Running Championships
Caracas (Venezuela) August 11th

More than 300 athletes took part in the 3rd edition of the S.American Mountain running Championships which was also an open race.
The mens course set on the mountains which surround the city of Caracas was 12km long with a single ascent-descent of 500m. The women ran 10km.
The international representatives from Columbia, Brazil, Chile and Venezuela headed the results list with Columbia providing two new champions.
The big surprise in the mens race was the defeat of current World Champion, Rolando Ortiz (COL) who finished 7th. The tricky descent with wet underfoot conditions did not suit his style of running. The race was won in impressive style by his countryman Jhon Jairo Vargas in a time of 53:46. However, Venezuelan runners filled the next three positions and 6th position to win the team event. Only 2 seconds separated Andy Carvallo (2nd) and Robert Lugo (3rd). All three expect to be competing in the World Trophy in Ovronnaz (SUI) in September.
The Columbian women provided both the individual Champion in Maria Rodriguez, and the team title by filling positions 1; 3 and 4. Maria, a top class long distance performer (2nd positions in Europe’s prestigious Sierre Zinal and Matterhornlauf races in recent years) won by the narrow margin of 15 seconds from Cruz Salazar (VEN) in a time of 46:29.
The only Chilean representative, Roberto Echeverria finished a respectable fifth.
The two Brazilian athletes 9one man, one woman) brought up the rear.
General Secretary of the Venezuelan Federation who is also chair of the S.American mountain running commission Marcos Oviedo expressed satisfaction that the championship is beginning to attract the attention of more S.American countries whose terrain is ideally suited to the sport of mountain running.
The sponsors, Gatorade commented that they saw mountain running as an excellent vehicle for promotion of their drinks products.
The event was preceded by a well attended seminar on mountain running conducted by WMRA President, Danny Hughes, assisted by Rolando Ortiz.

ican Mountain Running Championships