Mudge and Mejia Triumph in Malaysia

05.10.2006

Briton Angela Mudge and Mexican Ricardo Mejia were crowned Skyrunner World Champions Sunday, October 1, after racing to the summit of the 4.095m Mount Kinabalu in Malaysia in the final of the Buff Skyrunner World Series.

The final of the eight-race Series also celebrated the 20th anniversary of the race on the island of Borneo, Malaysia, where a record 345 participants from 21 countries competed.

The favourites did not disappoint: Ricardo Mejia, skyrunning “veteran” with a string of victories and records to his name, reached the finish line first in the men’s race on Sunday - while Angela Mudge, new skyrunning phenomenon, with four straight wins in the previous races, came third, guaranteeing her the World title based on the points ranking system.

In the women’s race on Saturday, September 30, Anna Pichrtova from the Czech Republic, five-time winner of the event, closed in 3h08’48”, followed by compatriot, Iva Milesova, in 3h14’42”. Angela Mudge took third position in 3h14’42”, confirming her supremacy as the Buff Skyrunner World Series champion. It was practically a photo finish however, as 2005 World Champion, Corinne Favre from France, crossed the finish line in 3h28’26”, a close fourth, placing her second in the Skyrunner World Series’ ranking; third, Catalan runner Ester Hernandez; and fourth, Italian newcomer, Daniela Vassalli.

The men’s race on Sunday had Mejia firmly in the lead from the start with a battle to the summit of Mount Kinabalu with two Catalans on his heels - Jessed Hernández and Agustí Roc, the latter, aiming for his fourth world title. The leaders were followed by Italians Fulvio Dapit and Marco Rusconi, and Malaysian runners Mius Bin Balinting, Safrey Sumping and Japanese athlete, Tadao Yokoyama.

Mejia, also winner of last year’s event, held the lead with confidence, although the Malaysian athletes set an impressive pace on the downhill.