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Türkiye & Italy reign supreme at Mountain Running Championships

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desco_elisia_mountain_running.jpg
Senior women's Champion Elisa Desco (ITA).
Photo by Pete Hartley.

The seventh European Mountain Running Championships took place in the small Black Forest town of Zell am Harmersbach (GER) on 12th July, and the full results are now published on the event web page.

The up/down courses attracted athletes from 25 countries, and saw the previously dominant Italians face a tough challenge from the recently emerging Turkish mountain runners.

The scene was set for some Turkish medals when the Junior ladies finished second with eight points led home by Esra Gullu. Russia kept up their tradition of entering strong Junior teams by taking the gold medal position by placing their counting athletes first (Mariya Bykova) and third, while the Great British Junior team, led by Hannah Bateson in fifth position, took bronze.

Turkish progress in mountain running was really demonstrated in the Junior men's race - previously dominated by Italy - when they took all medal positions and fifth place, led home by gold medalist Hasan Pak. This repeated their overwhelming superiority of last year.

In the senior women's race former medallist countries reasserted their credentials.

Elisa Desco (ITA) confirmed her fine form in last year's World Trophy (fourth) by winning in at time of 40.18 mins in front of Constance Devillers (FRA). Sarah Tunstall (GBR), after leading on the first lap slipped to third but enjoyed leading the British team to a gold medal win backed up by Victoria Wilkinson (5th) and Katie Ingram (9th) for a team total of 17
points. France took silver with 21 points and Italy bronze with 22 points. In total, seventeen nations finished full senior women's teams.

In the men's race Ahmet Arslan (TUR) retained his title, won last year on an uphill only course. His time was 50.01 Italy's traditionally strong senior men's team placed 2nd, 3rd, and 6th, led by relative newcomer Bernard Dematteis to win the team gold medal comfortably. Multiple World Champion in recent years and former European Champion in up/down races, Marco de Gasperi (ITA), had to be satisfied with third place nearly a minute behind the winner.
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Senior men's Champion Ahmet Arslan (TUR).
Photo by Pete Hartley.

The contest for the silver and bronze medal team positions was resolved by the last counter for each of Spain, France and Türkiye who all scored 32 points. With their last counter in 13th position Spain took their first medals in the Championships with a silver. France placed their last counter in 15th position so took bronze. Türkiye with their last counter in 17th position were edged out of the team medals on this occasion. In the end, 19 countries finished full senior men's teams.

European Athletics President, Hansjörg Wirz declared that he was extremely satisfied with a very successful and well organised Champion



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