Americans Fare Well at Arco

Emily Harrington and Daniel Woods, the only Americans competing at the 21st Rock Master in Arco, Italy, each finished fifth in their events at the world’s most prestigious invitation competition. The high placing bodes well for the two Coloradans at the biannual world championships, which will take place all this week in Aviles, Spain. 

Harrington equaled her position at last year’s Rock Master lead competition, and earned her fifth top-five finish in the last two years in major international competitions. She is the reigning North American  champion in lead climbing, and at the last world championship, in 2005, she stunned the European crowd by winning a silver medal. 

Woods beat some of the world’s best boulderers to earn a top-five finish at Arco; his previous best result in international adult competitions was 12^th place at a bouldering World Cup in 2006. He will be competing in both lead climbing and bouldering at the world championships this week. 

In all, 11 Americans have registered to compete at the world championships in lead climbing, bouldering, and speed. 

See 28 Photos by Marco Togni from the RockMaster XXI competition

Rock Master Results

Women’s Lead

1.   Angela Eiter (AUT)

2.   Maja Vidmar (SLO)

3.   Irati Anda Villanueva (SPA)

5.   Emily Harrington (USA) 

Men’s Lead

1.   Ramón Julián Puigblanque (SPA)

2.   Flavio Crespi (ITA)

3.   Tomás Mrázek (CZE) 

Women’s Bouldering

1.   Anna Stöhr (AUT)

2.   Julia Abramchuk (RUS)

3.   Olga Shalagina (UKR) 

Men’s Bouldering

1.   Gareth Parry (UK)

2.   Nalle Hukkataival (FIN)

3.   Gabriele Moroni (ITA)

5.  Daniel Woods (USA) 

Dates of Event: September 8-9, 2007 

Sources: www.ifsc-climbing.org, www.rockmaster.com

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