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Kenya's Joyce Njeru and Patrick Kipngeno are among those looking to claim titles at the Valsir Mountain Running World Cup season final this weekend.
Kenya’s Patrick Kipngeno and Joyce Muthoni Njeru are among those leading the charge in the Valsir Mountain Running World Cup that heads to the season finale in the Lombardy region of Chiavenna, Italy this weekend.
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. Both races are point to point. The vertical race starts in Chiavenna and climbs to Lagunc, while the Val Bregaglia Trail starts just over the border in Switzerland and finishes in Chiavenna.
Kenya's Joyce Muthoni Njeru, who is the World Cup leader, headlines the women's star-studded field. This follows her double win at Broken Arrow as well as Trofeo Nasego and Smarna Gora just last weekend. She has a good buffer between her and Britian’s Scout Adkin with 288 points to Adkin’s 244, but the latter 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, third-placed Kenya’s Philaries Jeruto Kisang, has also had an extremely strong season, with podium finishes in four out of six races, and just two points separating 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.
Some strong runners are travelling from the US, which will add another dimension to the competition. Lauren Gregory, who was sixth at Vertical Nasego, will be taking on the vertical race, as will Rachel Tomajczyk, who achieved two sixth places at Broken Arrow this year. US-based Australian athlete Lara Hamilton will be taking on both races.
The men’s line-up is equally strong and it’s very close at the top of the World Cup rankings. Kenya’s Patrick 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, including that unforgettable duel with Kilian Jornet at Sierre Zinal.
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’s 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, a long way behind Kipngeno, but two wins this weekend isn’t out of the question based on his season. Just behind him is Paul Machoka, who could also be a contender. Again, all three runners entered in both races.
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