Epic duels shaping up in Mountain Running

Mountain Running World Cup 2021 overall winner Joyce Muthoni of Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) has an uphill task against defending champion Purity Kajuju Gitonga when they duel for honors in the Mt Kenya Mountain Running Championships on Saturday in Meru County.

The home girl, Gitonga, from Kibirichia ward in Buuri Sub County took the 12km race bragging rights after clocking 53 minutes, 13.64 seconds ahead of seasoned mountain running champion Lucy Wamboi (53:34.04).

“I arrived at the course on Wednesday and had a feel of how it is. The route has changed its a bit longer with a kilometer last time it was 12km now it is 13km. I am ready to defend my 2019 title before I start focusing on the 5,000m for the Commonwealth Games later in August,” said Gitonga while concluding her three month training for the event.

Gitonga will be competing against her twin sister Caroline Gitonga.

“The women’s race is going to be tough we have Lucy Murugi who is experienced in the mountains and a winner to and then there’s Purity. I have raced both of them internationally and locally and they are tough opponents. I have not had the chance to check out the route but I have studied the map and ready for the race, ” said Joyce Njeru the 2021 World Cup overall winner.

In the men’s race all eyes will be on Geoffrey Gikuni Ndung’u the 2021 World Cup third overall finisher. Ndung’u will be targeting to retain his 2021 Classic Mountain Running overall title during Saturday’s race.

“It’s quite hard to know who will be the winner in the men’s race. Competition will be stiff and many will choose to run from the start to finish. Running in the mountains one has to be tactical, the some points one might be forced to walk, something new with Kenyan runners.

Before I learnt how to compete tactically, I would be passed by whites using all fours while you are seated due to exhaustion,” said Gikuni a veteran mountain runner.

Paris 2017 half marathon winner Morris Munene Gachanga will also be in the hunt for the Mountain title in the men’s category.

“I have been training for the race in Iten and moved to Embu to train on the hills to help in endurance and altitude. This race is important for me as I prepare to start my marathon season. My target in the marathon will be to lower my personal best of 2:05.09,” said Munene after finishing sixth in during the 2021 Paris Marathon.

Some of the foreign stars who have also shown interest in the race include Annie Pimolle (women), Afelix Antoniet, Depoilly Chaudhry and Franck Trevisson all from France.

The race dubed ‘Challenging the Heights’ is meant to mobilize funds towards an establishment of a cancer research institute in Meru County and promote sports tourism.

Technical committee chairman and retired marathoner Douglas Wakiihuri pointed out that there will be a change in the course.

"Both races will start at the Kenya School of Adventure and leadership learning (KESAL) and will be a loop. The eight kilometer start will be different from the 13km race taking different route though they will finish at the same point," said Wakiihuri adding that TT2 will be the most challenging.