Atsonishing performance by Jonathan Wyatt and thrilling finish in the womens race&nbsp,in the WMRA Grand Prix series lifts the Meran 2000 event to the top level.

Jonathan Wyatt (NZL) is once again proving to be unbeatable on the mountains this year. He shaved 33 seconds off Marco Gaiardo’s (ITA) course record, winning in a time of 1.15.57. The remarkable aspect of his victory was that the day before he had run in a 42km mountainous road marathon in Liechtenstein beating the previous record by ten minutes in a time of 2.56.00 !!

Gaiardo was not off form. He repeated his fine run of last year only 12 seconds slower than his now broken record. It was not even enough to earn him his customary second place. Timo Zeiler (GER) showing a marked increase in form since the first GP race beat him into second place by 15 seconds and indeed threatened to run away from Wyatt on the second, technical part of the course. As predicted, Dlugosz (POL), and Krupicka (CZE) were in contention until the final stages and were only a minute adrift of the leading places. Wyatt now moves to the top of the GP ranking.

Like the mens race the ladies race was thrilling with just one second separating the first two. In the absence of an injured Victoria Wilkinson (GBR), Renate Rungger again proved her mountain running credentials by out-sprinting a rapidly improving Anna Frost (NZL) to win in a time of 68.22. Anna will have been inspired with the news this week that she had been chosen by New Zealand to represent them in the 2008 World Trophy (Switzerland in September). Her second place moves her into 3rd place in the GP ranking. Renate will have to start competing out of Italy to figure as a significant competitor in the GP placings. Course record holder Antonella Confortola (ITA) placed third but was well beaten.

A plucky, steady run by Anne Buckley (GBR) in 6th position moves her to the top of the GP ranking being the only woman to have competed in all three GP races to date.

The next GPrace takes place in Telfes (Austria) on 3rd August

Renate Rungger and Anna Frost in a close finish (Konrad Gruber)