Canada takes bronze at NACAC Mountain Running Championships

Tepatitlan, Mexico hosted the 16th North American Central American Caribbean Mountain Running Championships on October 20. Five countries competed the 12K course with over 610 metres, all 2,100 above sea level. Stormy weather preceding the event meant an additional technical challenge for runners with mud and slippery rocks on Cerro Gordo mountain. Five countries competed on a muddy 12K course, with Canada taking the podium for men and women.

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Canadian results

Official results were not as fast to upload as our Canadians–but we have them. As a team, Canada took bronze in both the men and women’s team category. Individually, Canadians ran strong throughout the race.

In the women’s race, Emma Neigel was the first Canadian to finish, and placed fifth. Karley Rempel ran hard to sixth in 1:12:21. Jocelyn Poirier placed 11th in 1:17:33.

On the men’s side, Alexandre Ricard placed 11th in 58:18:00, Gareth Hadfield raced to 13th in 59:47:00, and Brendan Neely 15th in 1:04:47.

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Women’s results

For the first time, five countries were represented in the women’s race. The race for the podium was close, with American runners representing top spots. Dani Moreno from the USA won the race in 1:05:28. Moreno’s win also helped USA win first in the woman’s team category. Sam Lewis, also from the USA, placed second in 1:06:26 and Susana Bautista from Mexico rounded out the women’s podium in third with a time of 1:07:32. Mexico took second for the women’s team with 18 points, and Canada placed third with 22 points.

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Men’s results

The men’s podium saw another win from USA runner Andy Wacker, who won in 53:30:00. Second and third place went to Mexico’s Jesus Nava Aguila in 54:22:00 and Brayan Rodriguez Flore in 55:30:00. Mexico took the NACAC team title with a total of nine points. USA placed second with 12 points, and Canada took bronze with 35 points. Fun fact: Wacker is married to Rempel, who placed sixth for Team Canada at the same race.

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El Salvador competed with a full team for the first time and placed fourth with 42 points. Next up for the World Mountain Running Association will be the long distance World Mountain Running Championships in Villa la Angostrua, Argentina on November 15.

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