Kenyan duo crowned Mountain Running World Cup champions

Two Kenyan runners - Joyce Njeru and Philemon Kiriago - were on Sunday 15 October crowned as the 2023 Valsir Mountain Running World Cup champions after impressive displays in the last event of the circuit at Sky Gran Canaria in Spain.

Needing advantages over their close opponents heading into the final day of the super-fast demanding, rugged coastal route, the pair ran away with victories in their classic mountain runs, seizing this year’s crown and for Njeru, defending it.

Originally billed as a super-fast race with lots of downhill, the final race was a much quicker 22km, reduced in altitude because of local conditions and the danger of forest fires, which ultimately resulted in a fantastic fast classic mountain running course.

With the race held over two laps, both Kiriago and Njeru employed similar tactics to the ones they’d used to great effect all season on what was another hot day, seizing control as early as the first 5km.

For Kiriago that meant keeping things moving as he had compatriot Patrick Kipngeno, the world mountain running champion and multiple winner of World Cup races this year, tracking his every stride. Kipngeno, in fact, led for the first 5km.

For Njeru, however, it was a case of simply running away from her opposition. She established a 40-second gap on Philaries Kisang, also from Kenya and a podium finisher on five occasions in 2023, and maintained that margin all the way to the finish.

While the win was of course important, it also meant something far more significant for Kiriago.

Victory confirmed he had secured enough points to become overall World Cup champion.

Njeru and Kiriago series favourites as Mountain Running World Cup concludes

“I’m excited today as I hoped I would win the World Cup and it all went well,” said Kiriago, who had also won at Fletta Trail, Sierre Zinal and Trofeo Nasego.

Like Kiriago, the win also confirmed Njeru’s status as world No.1 in the Valsir Mountain Running World Cup rankings.

“I just feel good; the race was good. It was a nice feeling to finish and defend the World Cup trophy. It really worked well for me,” said Njeru, winner at Fletta Trail, La Montee du Nid d’Aigle and Canfranc.

Kipngeno came in second in the men’s overall standings just five points behind Kiriago (280) while Kipsang and Lucy Murigi in the women’s category finished third and fifth with 215 and 190 points respectively.

Winner of the vertical race on day one, Britain’s Joe Steward moved from fourth to third in the overall men’s standings. Behind him, season-long rival Remi Leroux of Canada switched positions – third to fourth – because of his sixth place in the vertical 4km.

Additional reporting by World Athletics.