The following release includes copy provided by the World Mountain Running Association (WMRA) featuring the World Masters Mountain Running Championships being held in Meduno, Italy, August 29-31. Today’s race was the Long Distance event and USA’s Christine Lundy topped the results on the women’s side. Lundy wrote in an email about her victory saying the course was super fun with brutal descents. Featured photo courtesy Marco Gulberti/WMRA.
World Masters Long Distance race
The course of 34 kilometers had 1850 meters of ascent and descent staring from the heart of Meduno to the slopes of Monte Valinis stitching together town lanes and old hamlets. After yesterday’s downpours, the trails were slick and playful for race day; the downhills had angles that rewarded nerve and neat footwork. The forecast held true for most of the day— warming to around 20°C—before storm showers rolled in just as the leaders hit the final three kilometres. The rain arrived in brisk pulses, never disruptive, and for many it felt like a gift: fresher air, faster feet, bigger grins.
The race fired out from Meduno’s town centre, a lively ribbon of supporters funnelling the field towards Borgo del Bianco, a picturesque enclave where the tarmac yielded to trail. From there the route climbed towards Monte Valinis, yesterday’s uphill finish, offering wide-angle views back to the valley and a clear look at clouds mustering on the horizon. The middle third stitched together climbs and traverses across forested slopes, a sequence of rhythm changes that rewarded even pacing and punished haste. With five kilometres to go, the first shower broke; the trails slickened, descents grew spicier, and confident movers from northern latitudes thrived. The final run-in reeled the race back towards Meduno, the bells and voices in town pulling athletes home.
Bulgaria and USA for the overall victories
Tencho Zhekov (BUL, M35) judged the day to perfection, pressing the climbs without panic and attacking the technical downs when the rain arrived. He claimed the overall men’s victory in 2:57:27, a sub-three that drew a roar from the finish chute. The women’s race saw a statement from Christine Lundy (USA, F55), whose experience told on the back half; she moved steadily through the field and sealed the overall win in 3:44:51, pairing efficiency with unmistakable grit.
Category highlights
Masters depth shone across the board. Patricia Olivos Aguilar (MEX) took F35 honours in 4:00:53, closing strongly through the final muddy kilometres. Spain’s Ana Cristina Aguado Mori—a multiple world champion at masters level—won F60 in 4:22:19, measuring her effort to the second on the long climbs. In the men’s field, Karl Gray (GBR) captured M55 with 3:24:11, while Winfried Huber (GER) delivered a composed performance to win M65 in 3:57:41. Italy’s ever-reliable Pierino Barbonetti added another line to a storied résumé, taking M75 in 4:32. Also for the USA, Paul LeBlanc finished 16th in the M60 division timed in 4:43:46. Across categories, the same pictures repeated: steady craft on the climbs, tidy feet on the descents, and grins that resisted the rain.
Full results from the Long Distance race can be found here.
USA results in the World Masters Uphill race
On Friday, August 29, the uphill race was held. This roughly 5 kilometer course featured 800 meters of ascent and ran from the historic town centre to the summit crest of Monte Valinis. Heavy rain was forecast, the skies stayed steel-grey, and the rain never came—but heat and humidity did. With humidity hovering around 96% and temperatures swinging from 23°C at the start to 18°C near the summit, pacing and hydration were as decisive as leg strength. It was a day made for the brave—and the community showed up in force.
USA’s Chris Grauch, a perennial competitor at World Masters, finished 6th in the M50 division running 38:52. Richard Fargo and Richard Ferguson raced in the M65 division with Fargo in 17th with a time of 53:12 and Ferguson in 45th in 1:13:35.
Grauch said in a text, “(I was) totally cooked in the head and humidity. Focusing now on the Classic race on Sunday.”
Results from the Uphill race can be found here.
Classic race
On Sunday, August 31, the Classic race will close out the weekend. The course is 14.1 kilometers with ≈735 m up and down. Look for Grauch, and Fargo from the USA to race, along with Brittany Farrell, W35 and Audrey Hatas, W35 who are also slated to toe the line representing USA.
Read the pre-race article featuring USA athletes competing at World Masters here.
