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Ajijic runner América Esmeralda Romero Gutiérrez placed 13th in the women’s relay standings at the 2026 Trofeo Vanoni, held on Oct. 25, in Morbegno, Italy. Alongside teammate Yadira Noemí Franco Pérez, Romero represented Mexico in one of Europe’s longest-running mountain races. The pair finished as Mexico’s highest-placing team in the women’s relay category.
Romero Gutiérrez, who is from Ajijic, competed in the international race for the first time as a member of the Galgos Tepa Athletics Club in Tepatitlán de Morelos. She earned her spot on the team after winning three competitions in the three months leading up to the event.
According to race organizers’ results, América completed her leg in 29 minutes and 26.512 seconds. Yadira Franco ran 24 minutes and 22.008 seconds. Together, they finished 13th in the overall women’s relay standings.
Although the Mexican team did not finish among the top international contenders, the pair ranked highest among Mexican teams in their category. Runners from several countries, including Italy, Slovenia and Ireland, competed in the physically demanding event.
The Trofeo Vanoni has been held in Morbegno since 1958. The town is in the Sondrio province, in Italy’s Lombardy region. In the women’s relay, each runner covers 5 kilometers (about 3.1 miles) on a course that combines town streets with forest trails, steep climbs and technical descents. Each leg includes 248 meters (about 814 feet) of elevation gain.
Before traveling to Italy, América received financial support from Chapala President Alejandro de Jesús Aguirre Curiel and the Papalote Trail Axixic organization. Her participation brought Ajijic’s name to the international mountain running stage.
Translated and edited by Dana Davis
