Mitja Kosovelj defends home turf at World Long Distance Mountain Running Challenge – Athletics news
Athletes have always been taking advantage of the events that are organised on their home grounds, and the reason for this phenomenon is quite known to everyone. Matter of fact, while contesting on home grounds, athletes have comparatively greater support
from the crowd, which provides the much needed encouragement and gives the boost that works as the springboard for t performers to acquire the much needed confidence while providing desired results.
Secondly, since they are quite acquainted with the weather conditions, tracks and other such important factors, they feel a mental ease to display out their performances. However, the games which are organised on home soil are also demanding as the local
crowd only supports their players until they are performing well, otherwise they just start booing them down, which makes things further difficult for those who strive to provide their best.
Recently, as the World Long Distance Mountain Running Challenge was under way, Slovenia, the hosting country earned the privilege to name the title. Though it was mainly contributed by the untiring efforts of Mitja Kosovelj, it was also contributed by the
athlete’s prior knowledge of the track.
The competition, which observed 405 competitors from about 18 countries across the world, went through its eighth edition this year. Out of the total number of participants, 320 were men, while rest of 85 contestants were women. The track of the race was
stretched over 37.5km, which also contained about a 500m altitude differential.
Kosovelj, for bagging the title, made some formidable efforts. The winner of the race remained cool and calm until the end and crossed the finishing line in three hours, twenty two minutes and thirty two seconds. The results culminated in beating his close
rivals from Scotland with a great margin.
While commenting upon his success, a humble looking Kosovelj did not give the entire credit of his win to his efforts, rather, he was of the view that luck also had a crucial role to play in this regard. He said, “Sometimes you dare to dream about such an
achievement, but despite all the hard work you do before the race you need sporting luck as well. Today it all went the right way for me even though I was in such pain on the last descent blisters completely damaged the skin of my heel.”
For bagging second position in the event, Thomas Owens managed to end his race in three hours, twenty six minutes and fifty nine seconds, while third position on the podium was claimed by Robie Simpson who finished in three hours, twenty nine minutes and
five seconds.
On the women’s side, the top finisher was England’s Philippa Maddams, as she ended the race in four hours, eight minutes and forty six seconds, while the silver medal went on to Ireland’s Karen Alexander, asshe hit the finishing line in four hours, sixteen
minutes and twenty one seconds. The third finisher on the podium was Helen Fines, who clocked four hours, nineteen minutes and fourteen seconds.
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