World Championships preview: Kamnik is ready!
It’s the time of year that many uphill specialists look forward to – elite uphill specialists that is. The 26th World Mountain Running Championships are upon us this weekend and the fields are absolutely loaded with talent…
The LOC stated that the event would be “the greatest sporting event ever in Kamnik” a few months back, and looking at the timetable, the welcoming statements and the reaction from some of the athletes, the Slovenian nation are putting on a great event.
Previews
Course
The course was talked of earlier in the year as being a brute, very steep and rough towards the top. However, reports back this week to MST from some elite athletes state that although tough the course is very ‘runable’. The distances are world champs standards in 12km for the senior men, 8.5km for the women and J men and 4.5km for the J women. For those in doubt there is a great video here
Racing
Senior Men
2009 Champ Geoffrey Kusuro is back, and after his commanding victory in Italy last year all eyes will be on him. However, with the likes of 7-time champ Jonathan Wyatt, 4-time Euro champ Ahmet Arslan, former champ Marco de Gasperi, alongside top contenders Rickey Gates, and a host of other African runners, the field is brimming with talent and should produce an electric race.
Geoffrey Kusuro
The top 6 six finishers from the UK trial all go for Britain, with many earning their first GB vest. The course will suit trials winner Tom Cornthwaite and a finish anywhere near the top 20 for Britain’s athletes will be a great achievement in this world-class field.
Senior Women
The women’s race should be very open – but once again has a world-class field. Former champion Andrea Mayr will possibly go in as favourite, however Americans Brandy Erholtz (Pikes Peak) and Megan Lund (Sierre Zinal) have been in great winning form recently and will not be there to make the numbers up.
New Zealand’s Anna Frost has had an excellent summer to date, and battled another contender Antonella Confortolla (Italy) on a few occasions, expect both girls to be in the mix come Sunday.
Britain has strong representation in the women’s race, and don’t be surprised to see the quartet of Anna Lupton, Vicky Wilkinson, Kate Goodhead and trials winner Olivia Walwyn run the medals close.
Olivia Walwyn - a comfortable ladies winner
Junior Men
The junior races are often unknown quantities at world championship races, with many nations’ athletes peaking for this one race. However we do know that within the British team the super-talented Welsh youngster Dewi Griffiths could spring a surprise. After a crushing win at the trials race and a subsequent 30 minute 10k expect to see him at the sharp end of things. Again Griffiths could be part of a high-finishing British team.
Dewi Griffiths - surely a future mountain star
Other contenders should be expected from the usually strong Italian team and the French Gras brothers.
Junior women
Again this one will be wide open. The US team has a strong representation, as does Italy and Snowdon International winner Cat Buchanan leads the charge for the British girls.
Catriona Buchanan
Full timetable
Thursday, 2. September – arrival of non-European teams – arrival of all delegates
Friday, 3. September – arrival of European teams – WMRA Council meeting – course inspection
Saturday, 4. September – 9:00 – WMRA Congress – 15:00 – technical meeting – 18:00 – opening ceremony – 20:00 – VIP reception
Sunday, 5. September – 7:30 – Start Open race – 10:00 – Start Junior Women – 10:00 – Start Junior Men – 10:45 – Start Senior Women – 11:15 – Start Senior Men – 18:00 – award and final ceremony – 20:00 – “pasta party”
Monday, 6. September – after breakfast – team departures
