Golden Trail Series heads to the United States

Posted on September 13, 2024•By John Kraijenbrink•News

Golden Trail Series heads to the United States

The Headlands 27k, in the famous Muir Woods National Monument near San Francisco (United States), is the next stop on the Golden Trail World Series. The trail runners will be racing through the last remaining ancient redwood forest in the Bay Area. The women will race on Saturday, September 14, 2024. The men will race on Sunday.

Judith Wyder, who finished second at the UTMB OCC, will return to the Golden Trail Series. The Swiss trail runner had to retire from Sierre-Zinal after contracting Covid. At the UTMB she showed she is back in shape.

New battle: Wyder vs Yao

To win, Wyder has to beat Joyce Njeru (Kenya), who is at her best on fast courses. Earlier this year she showed that by winning The Broken Arrow Skyrace (23k). Miao Yao (China) is another big favourite. She won the OCC at the end of last month, by utilising her speed on the flats and downhills. Anna Gibson is the local favourite. The Brooks runner knows the area like the back of her hand.

Other top women to look out for include Julia Font (Spain, Brooks), Bailey Kowalczyk (USA, Nike Trail), Caterina Stenta (Italy, Salomon), Madalina Florea (Romania, Salomon) and Rachel Tomajczyk (USA, Merrell).

Who will be number 1?

Patrick Kipngeno and Elhousine Elazzaoui are both in first place in the general standings of the Golden Trail World Series. So who will be on top after this weekend; the Kenyan or the Moroccon trail runner?

That doesn’t directly make them the favourites for this weekend in the United States. Simply, because Philemon Kiriago is starting as well. And the Kenyan Run2gether athlete showed his good form at Sierre-Zinal, where he narrowly lost to Kilian Jornet.

Bonnet is back

Rémi Bonnet is starting as well. It hasn’t been the season of the Golden Trail Series winner of last year yet. At the UTMB OCC Bonnet had to step out due to a back injury. The trails in the United States are less demanding. Maybe they suit him better.

Other runners to keep an eye on include Joey Hadorn (Swiss, Salomon), Daniel Pattis (Italy, Brooks), Bart Przedwojewski (Poland, Salomon) and Christian Allen (United States, Nike Trail).

Photo: Golden Trail Series

John Kraijenbrink

I run for fun. I run to be in the mountains, in the forest. I run, because running fascinates me. That’s why I study all the science about running. What I discover, I share with you. To help you to be a better runner, but above all to help you having fun running.