Lakeside’s second summer mountain race drew nearly 200 competitors entered in three routes over varied distances.
The third annual Ultra Trail Campanaria, organized by Ajijic’s Club Salvajes, was held Sunday, August 7. The event encompassed the 9.1-kilometer Copal Chino and 14-kilometer Camapanaria courses of previous years, plus the new 43-kilometer Tecuan component that traversed the heights of the town’s neighboring mountain range, crossing through rough territory in Jocotepec and Ixtlahuacán de los Membrillos.
Big winners of the day were Héctor Martínez Ramírez from Ocotlán who finished the grueling long race in four hours, 35 minutes and 20 seconds to qualify as top male contestant, and Yolanda Rodríguez Briones, who captured gold in the women’s category with a time of 5:56:18.
The field of 20 Tecuan contestants race set off from the starting line at the Ajijic Malecon at 6 a.m. Among them were three seasoned Japanese athletes currently residing in the state of Guanajuato where they are employed in the auto industry. None managed to finish in the top standings.
“The people here are tough,” remarked Tsuyoshi Matsuura, who developed his athletic stamina running up Mount Fuji.
Top honors in the Campanaria went to Servando Flores Raygoza, clocking 1:29:34 in the men’s open category, and Maria Magdalena Barba, with a time of 1:56:36 in the women’s open.
José Manuel Mora Reyes finished the Copal Chino route in 54:08, for the best male time, while Marisol Ruiz Arnol came in at 1:29 to beat out her female rivals.