|  World
Series – Jebb and Brizio leaders – Mejía smashes
race record
12 June 2005 - Ricardo
Mejía (right) and Manuela Brizio win the second trial of
the Buff® SkyRunner® World Series. The Mexican and the
Italian set the new race record while the Venezuelans place among
the top finishers. Briton Robb Jebb takes second place thus maintaining
his current leadership in the Series.
450 runners were at the start of the Valmalenco-Valposchiavo
SkyRace that follows the 30 km ancient smugglers’ trail
between Italy and Switzerland.
The incredible records in both categories had not
been predicted, but the favourable weather conditions, and the
little snow at the summit eased the way.
Ricardo Mejía reached the finish line in 2h34’39”,
nearly ten minutes less than the previous record set by Denis
Brunod. The first woman, Manuela Brizio arrived only 45 minutes
later in 3h20’33”, beating her previous record by
4 minutes.
Ricardo Mejía held the lead from the beginning,
dictating the pace to the other champions, Rob Jebb (left), Fulvio
Dapit, Fabio Bonfanti, Marco Rusconi and Jean Pellissier who continued
to lose ground to his leadership.
At the Campagneda Pass(2.627m), the highest point
of the race, Mejía transited five minutes before Jebb,
followed by Billy Burns. This position remained unchanged for
the rest of the race with Mejía finishing first in 2h34’39”,
Jebb (2h41’42”) and Burns (2h45’39”).
 In
the women’s field the battle for victory was quite different.
Favourite Corinne Favre retired after 30 minutes, and it was the
Russian, Wera Soukhowa who took over the lead and was first to
reach the pass, followed by British runner, Ruth Pickvance, Manuela
Brizio (right) and Catalan runner Anna Serra. On the steep descent
to Poschiavo, Manuela overtook all her rivals and battled to reach
the finish line first in 3h20’33”.
Soukhowa (3h21’02”) and Pickvace (3h22’26”)
finished respectively in second and third position with the current
world title holder, Anna Serra, coming fourth in 3h27’32”.
Robb Jebb then, leads the world ranking
after this second trial with Manuela Brizio, second in the World
Series last year.
The next Buff® SkyRunner® World Series
will be in Canazei, Italy on July 24 where the champions are attended
at the Dolomites SkyRace.
Photos: Gianni Cortese e Tiziana Salis
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