Atacama Crossing 2013 Offical Press Release.pdf - HKRunners
Atacama Crossing 2013 Offical Press Release.pdf - HKRunners
Atacama Crossing 2013 Offical Press Release.pdf - HKRunners
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PRESS RELEASE<br />
Daniel Rowland Wins the <strong>Atacama</strong> <strong>Crossing</strong> <strong>2013</strong><br />
[10 March <strong>2013</strong>, San Pedro de <strong>Atacama</strong>, Chile]<br />
The <strong>Atacama</strong> <strong>Crossing</strong> <strong>2013</strong> concluded with 132 competitors crossing the finish line, including a<br />
cancer survivor, two blind men, and two women living with diabetes.<br />
Daniel Rowland of Zimbabwe vied with Australia’s Vlad Ixel to snag first place. The two men<br />
sprinted to the finish line within seconds of each other in multiple stages. In the end, Daniel<br />
edged Vlad out with a total time of 25 hours, 38 minutes and 4 seconds.<br />
―It’s been amazing,‖ said Daniel. ―Tough but beautiful. I came to improve on my time from last<br />
year, so to beat my time from last year and to win was great.‖<br />
Vlad finished in 26:16:41. Following him were Craig Willment of South Africa, Andrea Girardi of<br />
Italy, Kyle McCoy of the United States, Adam Woolliscroft of Wales, Rick Braff of the United<br />
States, Hye Chang Rhim of South Korea, Nelson Sepulveda of Chile on his home turf, and<br />
Richard Bray of the United Kingdom.<br />
Rebecca Pattinson of the United Kingdom won first place among the women with a total time of<br />
34:50:43.<br />
―The whole environment just lifts you up,‖ said Rebecca, who is the women’s champion. ―I have<br />
never felt emotions like that and I don’t think I ever will again. Everyone keeps asking me what<br />
next, well I think quit while you are ahead!‖<br />
Luisa Balsamo of Italy followed in second place with 35:24:14. Rounding out the top ten among<br />
the women were Annabel Hepworth of Australia, Beatriz Camiade of Mexico, Sabina Bacinelli of<br />
Italy, Amanda de Kock of South Africa, Yvonne Abson of Scotland, Vikki Bester of Australia,<br />
Andrea Lopez of Chile on her home turf, and Lisa Cox of the United States.<br />
Yosuke Kurosawa, Shinya Sasaki and Hirofumi Ono of Japan won the team championship as<br />
Team Kizuna.<br />
―We came here to win,‖ they said. ―We always help each other. Sometimes we fight, but we think<br />
of each other and accept each other. This is why we came.‖<br />
In addition to these champions, the <strong>Atacama</strong> <strong>Crossing</strong> <strong>2013</strong> hosted many other notable<br />
competitors. Jisung (Jesse) Yoo of South Korea has now completed 19 RacingThePlanet/4<br />
Deserts events, more than anyone in the world. Iranian competitor Ashkan Mokhtari is coming<br />
back to the <strong>Atacama</strong> for the fifth time in as many years. He has completed 12 RacingThePlanet /<br />
4 Deserts events overall.<br />
Keijiro Hamada of Japan and Vladmi do Santos of Brazil are both blind, but made it across 250<br />
kilometres of mud, salt flats, and sand dunes with the help of guides.<br />
―My heart is strong,‖ said Vladmi dos Santos from Brazil, who is blind. He described seeing the<br />
race not with his eyes, but with his heart. ―I am very happy. I have made friends with all the<br />
competitors. The people see me as a normal person, not blind.‖<br />
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© Copyright RacingThePlanet Events Limited <strong>2013</strong>. All rights reserved.
Jim Willett of Canada battled colon cancer in 2010, and has now completed two 4 Deserts<br />
events.<br />
―The highs, the lows, the connection I have with RacingThePlanet [after] all I have been through,<br />
words can not explain,‖ Jim said.<br />
The next 4 Deserts event is the Gobi March <strong>2013</strong>, beginning 2 June and going through 8 June.<br />
—Ends—<br />
About the <strong>Atacama</strong> <strong>Crossing</strong> <strong>2013</strong> (3 – 9 March) - www.4deserts.com/atacamacrossing<br />
The <strong>Atacama</strong> <strong>Crossing</strong> is one of the four races that comprise the world renowned 4 Deserts<br />
series of 250-kilometer rough-country footraces. The race takes place in the archeological jewel<br />
of Chile – the <strong>Atacama</strong> Desert. This desiccated environment is the perfect preserver of ancient<br />
relics, with geoglyphic paintings that adorn the hillsides alongside ruins of Indian fortresses and<br />
sacred Inca sites.<br />
About the 4 Deserts - www.4deserts.com<br />
The 4 Deserts is the world’s leading endurance footrace series, a unique collection of world-class<br />
races that take place over 7 days and 250 kilometers in the largest and most forbidding deserts<br />
on the planet.<br />
Competitors must go beyond the limits of their physical and mental endurance. Racing selfsupported<br />
in the most inhospitable climates and formidable landscapes, they must carry all their<br />
own equipment and food, and are only provided with drinking water and a place in a tent each<br />
night to rest.<br />
The series, named again by TIME magazine as one of the world’s Top 10 endurance<br />
competitions, comprises the <strong>Atacama</strong> <strong>Crossing</strong> in Chile, the Gobi March in China, the Sahara<br />
Race in Egypt and The Last Desert in Antarctica.<br />
For media and press enquiries including access to photos please email<br />
info@racingtheplanet.com.<br />
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© Copyright RacingThePlanet Events Limited <strong>2013</strong>. All rights reserved.