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6 Day Championship, Mexico 2004Parque Niños Heroes in Monterrey N.L. Mexico On Monday March 22 at 12 o'clock P.M. the 6 day race started with a record 19 runners from 6 different countries of the world and the team's Vitro The Parque Niños Héroes opened itself for the competitors running around the circuit of 1.886 km. After more than 24 hours of the competition, Vlastimil Dvoracek of the Czech Republic took the lead and accumulated 182 km with his consistent style that made it look easy. Kim Rasmussen of Denmark held second place, and Arcadio Juárez of Cuernavaca, Mexico was third. After 48 hours, Vlastimil was the leader with 286.670 km, Kim Rasmussen, in second place with 256.500 km. The American Andrew Lovy suffered from light burns in the skin and was aided by the medical team of the Hospital San José, while in the women’s branch Silvia Andonie stayed in first place with 194 km, Rosa is behind with 154 km, Ma. Luisa (Quita) Valdez with 120 km and Laura Tovalin with 75 km. In the men's branch, the third place was Arcadio Juarez with 247 km, José Aguilar with 226 km, José Luis Career with 220 km. From India, Arun Bhardwaj was running, from the USA Andrew Lovy and Beat Knechtle of Switzerland. It is necessary to highlight that Eleuterio Castillos participating in the 60+ age category, doesn't stop in chasing Andrew. Eleuterio also participated in the 24 hours on Saturday March 20 till Sunday March 21, he ran 150 km. After 4 days, Vlastimil stays in the first place, Kim adds 509 km and Arcadio 434 km. José Aguilar takes 419, Gilberto Cerda 330 km, Carlos Cortéz of Mante, Tamaulipas 319 km, and Antonio Arévalo 264 km. The climate was very benevolent, a fresh temperature of 15 degrees at night and 22 degrees in the day. The medical service was very busy assisting the runners and for their own security an obligatory medical check-up took place every 24 hours. The last day, Vlastimil walked but he still achieved his objective of running 700 km. His final total was 718.566. Kim Rasmussen broke the Danish record of 550 km, with 661.986. Arcadio Juarez of Mexico was placed in third place with 597.862 km. Beat Knechtle of Switzerland didn't lose his sense of humour and without leaving his medical studies which he was experimenting on himself, finished in eighth with 501.676 km. Andrew Lovy, veteran of Vietnam, a medical psychiatrist who assures us that the ultrarunners are not crazy, finished with 386.63 km in spite of having his shoulder dislocated from the fall he suffered while sleeping on a bank! Eleuterio Castillos finally caught Andrew and won his category with 397.946 km. Arun Bhardwaj of India in spite of some matters, recaptured his rhythm to finish with 501.676 km. José Luis Career (Speedy) tried to reach his countryman Arcadio and almost achieved it, he made 580.888 km. Gilberto Cerda ran for the first time in the 6 days and he never surrendered; in spite of the difficulties, he always showed a sincere smile. Francisco Gómez, who is security manager of Vitro, headed its team and went every night to run its quota of 1 marathon; during the rest of the day he fulfilled his work of great responsibility. His team made a formidable distance of 1003.352 km and his security guards got into great physical condition. Carlos Arturo Cortes (the pride of mante) tolerated as a hero his blisters and made 526.194 km. José Aguliar of Carmen, Nuevo León, injured an ankle yet remained fighting until the end with 522.422 km. Juan Ignacio Rodriquez made space in his days and after working, accompanied us with serious jogging, travelling 164.082 km. In the women's race, Silvia Andonie, (above) who received during the competition, an invitation to be a candidate to carry the Olympic Torch on June 15 in Mexico city, finished first. Rosa Silva took second, then Ma. Luisa Valdéz from Torreón in third, and in fourth place, Laura Tovalín. Kim Rasmussen took second place We want to thank Lupita Rodríguez for her great support, thanks to all the voluntary people of the Cendis (center of infantile), they kept helping day after day, to Andrea who was in charge of the kitchen, to the Sponsors: Powerade, Coca Line, Pastelerias Lety, Sr. Natural, La Mia Trattoría, Dunlop, Nestlé, Agua Junghamms, Aviacsa, MoviStar and Hospital San José. Thanks to Mauricio Cruz and José Luis Carrillo from the Vitro Company, responsible for the lap counting by computer and to Servando and volunteers of the Cendi responsible for the manual lap counting and to Luis Carlos Lopez responsible for the lap counting with the chip system. We invite you to participate in the next events, you can see the info in our website www.multisport-mx.com or you can contact me jlandonie@intercable.net , Jorge Luis Andonie |