Extra support in demanding conditions

Temperatures were even higher than on the opening day, making race management an important part of the day for athletes and organisers alike. In response, the WMRA, the Local Organising Committee and World Masters Athletics worked together to strengthen the on-course support.

Instead of the originally planned three aid stations, athletes had access to seven aid stations in total, giving them more opportunities to take on water, cool down and manage their effort safely.

The additional support was an important part of the race environment on a hot day in the mountains. The challenge remained demanding, but the response from the organisers helped athletes compete with greater safety and confidence.

It was certainly not an easy day, but it was one that captured the spirit of masters mountain running: demanding, committed and full of respect for the athletes.

Szcześniewski (POL) and Krčálová (CZE) take the overall wins

Poland’s Miłosz Szcześniewski (POL) won the men’s overall race, taking victory in the M35 category in 1:39:45. His performance made him the fastest athlete of the day over the Long Distance course.

Photo copyright: WMRA Christian Rizzi

In the women’s race, the overall victory went to home athlete Olga Krčálová (CZE), who won the W45 category in 1:58:07. Her performance gave the host nation one of the standout results of the day.

Their wins gave the Long Distance race two strong stories: an international men’s victory for Poland, and a home win for Czechia in the women’s race.

Men’s titles decided across all age groups

Behind the overall victory of Miłosz Szcześniewski (POL) in M35, the men’s Long Distance race produced another strong spread of winners across the age categories.

Czechia’s Milan Janata (CZE) took the M40 title in 1:45:20, while Bulgaria’s Shaban Mustafa (BUL) won M45 in 1:44:34. France’s Ivan Bourgeois (FRA) claimed the M50 title in 1:53:54, and Czechia’s Martin Frelich (CZE) won M55 in 1:55:28.

Italy’s Franco Torresani (ITA) added another world masters title in M60, finishing in 2:02:19. Germany’s Winfried Huber (GER) won M65, also in 2:07:28, while Austria’s Peter Flunger (AUT) took the M70 crown in 2:22:30.

The M75 title went to Spain’s Jesus Maria Ayanz Argonz (ESP) in 2:35:15, completing the men’s list of Long Distance champions.

Women’s titles shared across Europe

The women’s Long Distance race also brought a strong international spread of winners across the age groups.

Germany’s Ann-Kathrin Deubner (GER) won the W35 title in 2:01:08, while Italy’s Andrea Schweigkofler (ITA) took the W40 crown in 1:58:59. The overall women’s winner, Olga Krčálová (CZE), claimed the W45 title for the host nation in 1:58:07.

Photo copyright: WMRA Christian Rizzi

In the older categories, Serbia’s Ljiljana Krasić (SRB) won W50 in 2:07:56, France’s Carole Millet (FRA) took W55 in 2:19:20, and Austria’s Sabine Hofer (AUT) claimed the W60 title in 2:16:28.

Germany’s Gertrud Härer (GER) won W65 in 2:49:57, Italy’s Iole Ronchi (ITA) took W70 in 2:56:32, and Austria’s Ulrike Hoffmann (AUT) completed the women’s title list with victory in W75 in 3:33:50.

Torresani (ITA) reaches twelve world masters titles

One of the standout stories of the day came from Italy’s Franco Torresani (ITA), who once again showed his experience and descending ability.

After winning the M60 Uphill title on Friday, Torresani (ITA) returned for the Long Distance race and added another world masters title to his record. His performance was built not only on endurance, but also on the kind of downhill control that became decisive on the course.

With today’s victory, Torresani (ITA) reached his 12th World Masters Mountain Running title, a remarkable achievement and another reminder of the depth and history carried by many athletes in the masters field.

Photo copyright: WMRA Christian Rizzi

A race shaped by descending

The Long Distance course continued through the Černá hora (Black Mountain) area, combining sustained climbing with fast and technical descending.

After around eight to nine kilometres, the runners entered a beautiful single-track downhill section, where the race began to change. From there, the course dropped sharply through the ski slopes, creating a vertiginous descent that rewarded confidence, control and downhill skill.

For many categories, this was where the race opened up. Strong descenders were able to move through the field, take risks and gain time, turning the second half of the race into a real test of mountain-running technique as much as endurance.

A championship built on experience

The Long Distance race showed a different side of the championships compared with Friday’s Uphill. This was not only about climbing power. Athletes had to read the course, manage the heat, use the aid stations wisely and stay composed on the descents.

That is where masters mountain running often shows its character best. Many athletes in Janské Lázně have decades of racing behind them, and on a day like this, experience mattered. The strongest runners were not only the fastest, but also the ones who understood how to handle the mountain, the weather and the rhythm of a long championship race.

Respect the masters

Across the age categories, the race again showed why the World Masters Mountain Running Championships are such an important part of the mountain-running calendar. Athletes raced hard in difficult heat, adapted to the conditions and took on a course that asked for resilience, technique and judgement.

After two days of racing, the championships now move towards Sunday’s Up & Down race, the final test of the weekend.

RESULTS

Men’s Long Distance champions
M35: Miłosz Szcześniewski (POL) — 1:39:45
M40: Milan Janata (CZE) — 1:45:20
M45: Shaban Mustafa (BUL) — 1:44:34
M50: Ivan Bourgeois (FRA) — 1:53:54
M55: Martin Frelich (CZE) — 1:55:28
M60: Franco Torresani (ITA) — 2:02:19
M65: Winfried Huber (GER) — 2:07:28
M70: Peter Flunger (AUT) — 2:22:30
M75: Jesus Maria Ayanz Argonz (ESP) — 2:35:15

Women’s Long Distance champions
W35: Ann-Kathrin Deubner (GER) — 2:01:08
W40: Andrea Schweigkofler (ITA) — 1:58:59
W45: Olga Krčálová (CZE) — 1:58:07
W50: Ljiljana Krasić (SRB) — 2:07:56
W55: Carole Millet (FRA) — 2:19:20
W60: Sabine Hofer (AUT) — 2:16:28
W65: Gertrud Härer (GER) — 2:49:57
W70: Iole Ronchi (ITA) — 2:56:32
W75: Ulrike Hoffmann (AUT) — 3:33:50

FULL Results

About the WMRA:

Formed in 1984, the World Mountain Running Association is the global governing body for mountain running and has the goal of promoting mountain running for all ages and abilities.

As well as the World Cup, the WMRA organizes Masters, U18 and area championships and in partnership with the World Athletics, ITRA and IAU to deliver the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships, with the last event held in CanfrancPirineos Spain in 2025. The WMRA also maintains the Mountain Running World Ranking, a system of points allocated to athletes based on the results in designated races.