Joyce Muthoni Njeru and Patrick Kipngeno have strengthened their number 1 position on the ranking of the World Mountain Running Association by winning the Trofeo Nasego, a 21,5 kilometres long (1,330m+) trail run in Italy.
In the streets of Castro, directly at the start, a group of women broke away from the rest of the field. Leading the group was Philaries Jeruto Kisang (Kenya), the number three of the Montee du Nid d’Aigle race of last month, followed by Gloria Chebet, Joyce Muthoni Njeru (both Kenya) and Andrea Mayr (Austria), last year’s World Mountain and Trail Running champion on the 7k. A few metres behind them trailed Susanna Saapunki (Finland).
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Andrea Mayr best climber
On the long climb up to Rifugio Nasego Mayr showed her climbing strength, and put some distance in between her and Njeru and Saapunki. Yet, Njeru still had the downhill to look forward to, and around 17 kilometres she used her higher top speed to pass the Austrian to take first place. She stopped the clock at 1:51:33.
Behind Njeru, Mayr held on to second place; 1:53:02. Saapunki completed the podium. She finished in 1:54:00.
Luciano Rotoa follows Kenyans
Luciano Rotoa (Italy) was in the men’s race the only one who could follow the Kenyans Josphat Kiprotich, Patrick Kipngeno, Philemon Ombogo Kiriago, Paul Machoka and Michael Selelo Saoli at the start. Yet, on the climb to Rifugio Nasego he had to let go and it was clear that it was going to be a Kenyan battle for the victory.
Kipngeno proved to be the best climber and the Run2gether athlete reached the top first, leading Kiriago by 90 seconds. No matter what Kiriago, last year’s winner, tried, he couldn’t close the gap on the downhill. In fact Kipngeno extended his lead and finished in 1:31:26. Kiriago clocked 1:33:59.
Behind the two teammates Kiprotich tried to make it an all Run2gether podium, but he came 16 seconds short for third. That last place on the podium was for Machoka, who finished in 1:34:38.
Photo: WMRA/Marco Gulberti
You'll find all results of the Trofeo Nasego 2024 here.
