Kenyan athlete Patrick Kipng'eno has moved up to second place in the Golden Trail World Series overall rankings following his back-to-back wins. Kipng'eno garnered 218 points after his recent victories, bringing his total to 830 points. He leapfrogged champion Elhousine Elazzaoui and is now 40 points behind series leader Philemon Kiriago, who has 870 points.
Philemon Kiriago has consistently performed well in the seven-part series, not finishing outside the top two. His recent second-place finishes at the Jinshanling Great Wall Trail Race and the Myoko Trail allowed Kipng'eno to close the gap. Kiriago previously won at Sierra Zinal and finished second at the Quebec Mega Trail and the Ledro Sky Trentino. Both Kiriago and Kipng'eno are affiliated with Run2gether On Trail.
Elhousine Elazzaoui is third in the standings with 824 points, earned from victories at Zegama Aizkorri, Ledro Sky Trentino, and Pitz Alpine Glacier Trail, as well as a fourth-place finish at the Quebec Mega Trail. Other Kenyan athletes in the top 10 include Michael Saoli (fourth, 764 points), Timothy Kibet (fifth, 650 points), Nashon Kiplimo (sixth, 651 points), and Ezekiel Tutto (seventh, 598 points).
The Golden Trail World Series will conclude with the Muju Trail Grand Finale in South Korea on October 24 and 25. The course is a 25.6 km trail featuring 2,294 meters of elevation gain and has been described as the toughest in the series history. There will be 300 points available, along with additional points across different segments.
The Grand Finale will bring together the top 30 men and women in the overall standings, as well as winners of the Golden Trail National Series and National Championships from several countries. Kiriago aims to secure a top-two finish to claim his maiden GTWS title. He expressed his determination, saying, "The Grand Finale brings together the best mountain runners in the world. It will be tough but I am hoping for the best."
In the women's leaderboard, Madalina Florea leads with 872 points, followed by Caroline Kimutai with 806 points and Ruth Gitonga with 766 points. Gitonga recently secured her maiden GTWS victory at the Jinshanling Great Wall Trail Race. The women's race is set for October 24, with the men's race a day later.
The Muju Trail Grand Finale course features a succession of ridgelines, steep gradients, and trails through coniferous forests and rocky terrain, passing ancient Buddhist temples and distinctive landscapes. This setting showcases a different side of South Korea, which is bidding for the 2036 Summer Olympic Games.
Key points
- Kipng'eno moved to second place in the GTWS standings with 830 points.
- The GTWS will conclude with the Muju Trail Grand Finale in South Korea on October 24 and 25.
- Kiriago aims for a top-two finish to secure his maiden GTWS title.
