Rutto breaks Giir di Mont mountain running record in Italy
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Reading Time: 2min | Mon. 28.07.25. | 08:53
Kenyan men had swept the top five places on the opening day but couldn't replicate the performance on Sunday as Paul Machuka
Kenya's Valentine Jepkoech Rutto overcame opening day disappointment, where she missed the podium, to run a race record in the 32 km at the Giir di Mont Mountain Running World Cup event held on Saturday, 26, and Sunday, 27, in Premana, Italy.
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After rains affected uphill racing on day one, conditions could not have been more different for the 32km on Sunday, as it was a day of clear skies and warm temperatures.
With a very strong women’s field, Rutto went out hard, taking a two-minute lead earlier on.
She kept pushing the pace and was soon rewarded with a three-minute cushion from the chasing pack led by Italian Roberta Jacquin.
Mathilde Sagnes was 30 seconds behind, followed by Martina Cumerlato, Cecilia Basso, and Elisa Presa. Simone Troxler and Alice Testini were also close behind.
Rutto used her flat speed and strong climbing to increase the gap to seven minutes.
Behind her, Cumerlato, Basso, and Jacquin were working together to try to reduce that gap.
However, it was increasingly looking unlikely that Rutto could be caught, but the race for second and third was on.
Kenya's relentless pace did not let up, flexing with a 10-minute advantage as she went on to take an impressive win in a course record of 3:58.28.
Jacquin’s descending speed proved decisive, and she overtook Cumerlato to take second in 4:07.56.
Meanwhile, after a Kenya top-five sweep on Saturday in the men's race, Davide Magnini held out tough competition to emerge winner in 3:14.04, with Stain Angermund second in 3:15.36. Italy's Mattia Tanara completed the podium in 3:18.34.
Paul Machoka was fourth on 3:19.15 as Lorenzo Rota Martir completed the top five places in 3:20.18.
Leading results
Women
1 Valentine Jepkoech Rutto (KEN) 3:58.28
2 Roberta Jacquin (ITA) 4:07.45
3 Martina Cumerlato (ITA) 4:08.47
4 Cecilia Basso (ITA) 4:13.49
5 Mathilde Sagnes (FRA) 4:18.42
Men
1 Davide Magnini (ITA) 3:14.04
2 Stian Angermund (NOR) 3:15.35
3 Mattia Tanara (ITA) 3:18.34
4 Paul Machoka (KEN) 3:19.15
5 Lorenzo Rota Martir (ITA) 3:20.18
By World Athletics
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