Three experienced mountain runners from the lakeside area are getting ready to pack their bags and head off to Europe for major international competitions scheduled for next month.
After capturing second place in the July 20 Chupinaya-Nacac race, Enrique Camarena Camberos was named to run with Team Mexico in the World Mountain Running Championships, set for September 14 in Casette di Massa, Italy.
Camarena was selected to fill the sixth and final slot on the national team be since Chupinaya gold medalist Mario Alberto Ramiro Allende had already qualified for a position in at previous contest. He was awarded a 10,000-peso prize to be applied towards payment of his airfare to Europe.
A 30 year-old native of Tlachichilco del Carmen, Camarena makes his living as a gardener, practicing running in his spare time. Although he enjoys competing in different types of running events, his specialty is rigorous mountain racing.
He ran at last year’s World Mountain Championship in Krynic, Poland, crossing the finish line just eight minutes behind lead runner Philip Kiplomo from Uganda to take 46th place in the field of 129 senior men who finished the 13.5 kilometer course.
Mexico’s top contestant, Juan Carlos Carera, whizzed in a minute and half after Kiploma to nab sixth place, just ahead of Team USA’s Joe Gray, known locally as the La Chupinaya’s standing record holder.
Meanwhile, Ajijic athletes Gerardo López Castellanos and Ricardo González González are gearing up to compete in the Mountain Running Masters World Championship, an event limited for competitors ages 35 to 80 that will be held on September 6 in Telfes, Austria.
López, 56, is a local house painter who has competed regularly in the annual Chupinaya challenge, as well in numerous other races held throughout Mexico and the United States. He took third place in the Veteran’s category at Chupinaya 2014, limping in after suffering an injury on the uphill climb.
González, the founder and head honcho of La Chupinaya race, is a 59-year-old fleet-footed globetrotter whose appearances on the international racing circuit include runs in the Pikes Peak Ascent, the Boston and San Francisco marathons and major events in Italy, Germany, Switzerland and New Zealand.
All three men would gratefully welcome sponsorships from businesses and residents who would be willing to help them cover their travel expenses. For details, contact González at his glass and frame shop, Guadalupe Victoria 38, telephone 766-1356, cell 333-476-6856.