Who takes top honours as Valsir Mountain Running World Cup concludes?
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Reading Time: 2min | Fri. 11.10.24. | 15:06
With 100 points on offer for an athlete winning both races, it is a crucial weekend as current rankings show it’s possible that any one of six men could emerge champion, as could any one of three women
Kenyan duo of Joyce Muthoni Njeru and Patrick Kipngeno lead stacked fields for the Valsir Mountain Running World Cup season finale set for Saturday 12 to Sunday 13 October in Chiavenna, Lombardy region of Italy.
On Saturday athletes will contest the final World Cup short uphill race with the 25th edition of Lagunc KM Verticale and the following day the last long race, Val Bregaglia Trail, will take place.
Following her double win at Broken Arrow as well as Trofeo Nasego and Smarna Gora just last weekend, Muthoni Njeru is the favourite. She has a good buffer between her and Britian’s Scout Adkin with 288 points to Adkin’s 244.
The latter, however, has also had a consistent season with wins at Montemuro Vertical Run and La Montee du Nid d’Aigle plus a second place at Sierre Zinal.
Similarly, the third-placed runner in the women’s World Cup, Kenya’s Philaries Jeruto Kisang, has also had an extremely strong season, with podiums in four out of six races, and just two points separate her and Adkin. Kisang won both races here last year, which could be important.
But with such a deep field, the race is still wide open. Susanna Saapunki is currently in fifth place after strong performances at Montemuro, Vertical and Trofeo Nasego and Smarna Gora.
There’s little doubt she will overtake Gloria Chebet, who is currently in fourth and does not appear to be racing here, and she will be one to watch in both races.
Meanwhile, a strong men’s line-up adds to the excitement as six still have a chance heading to the final leg. Kipngeno leads with 235 points, after two wins at Broken Arrow and two at Nasego.
His compatriot Philemon Ombogo Kiriago is just eight points behind him after an incredibly consistent season.
Just 11 points behind Kiriago is Josphat Kiprotich, who achieved second places at Grossglockner, La Montee du Nid d’Aigle and Vertical Nasego. All three athletes are entered into both races.
There is also another trio of Kenyan athletes in contention for the World Cup. Michael Selelo Saoli won Giir di Mont and has had a string of strong results.
Richard Omaya Atuya has won all but one of the World Cup races he has entered this year – Grossglockner, La Montee du Nid d’Aigle, and Smarna Gora, with just Sierre Zinal eluding him.
He is on 151 points, so a long way behind Kipngeno, but two wins this weekend are not out of the question based on his season. Just behind him is Paul Machoka, who could also be a contender.
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