Vertical Kilometer World Champions - Roc and Kortazar

News Release / 03.07.2012

The SkyGames opening events kicked off Saturday with the Vertical Kilometer  World Champion titles and, as predicted, Spain took the day.  Three-times skyrunning world champion AgustÍ Roc, 40, came out of semi-retirement and, triumphant like Rocky Balboa, climbed back on the top of the podium with a gold for the 1,000 metre Vertical Kilometer.  Spain’s Raúl García was second and Italy’s Nicola Golinelli, third.

The all-Spanish women’s podium was headed by favourite, Oihana Kortazar with Laura Orgué second and Mireia Miró, third, a happy come-back after a period of injury.

The day’s racing wasn’t over however.  The afternoon saw an even steeper race with the SkySpeed testing runners to their vertical limits:  a mere 200 metres distance, but a punishing 100 metres skywards. The steep incline didn’t deter the many spectators lining the course and enthusiastically cheering on the runners.

Here, France and Italy were victorious with Didier Zago and Debora Cardone pocketing the gold.  Silver and bronze went to Spain in both men’s and women’s categories, respectively, Jesús de la Morena, Luis Alberto Hernando and Oihana Kortazar and Silvia Leal.

The day’s final medal count for the two events reads:

Spain: 2 gold / 4 silver / 3 bronze

Italy: 1 gold / 0 silver / 1 bronze

France: 1 gold / 0 silver / 0 bronze

SkyGames national ranking:

Spain:  678 points

Italy: 318 points

France: 232 points

(* based on the results of three men and one woman)

Vertical Kilometer results

Men

1. Agustí Roc (ESP): 35:51. 2. Raúl García (ESP): 36:10. 3. Nicola Golinelli (ITA): 36:16

Women

1. Oihana Kortazar (ESP): 43:59. 2. Laura Orgué (ESP): 44:29- 3. Mireia Miró (ESP): 44:49

SkySpeed results:

Men

1. Didier Zago (FRA). 2. Jesús de la Morena (ESP). 3. Luis Alberto Hernando (ESP)

Women

1. Debora Cardone (ITA). 2. Oihana Kortazar (ESP). 3. Silvia Leal (ESP)

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Official website: www.ocisport.net for details.  

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