Patrick Kipngeno wins the Val Bregaglia Trail (© Marco Gulberti)
Patrick Kipngeno’s win at the Val Bregaglia Trail on Sunday (13) secured him the overall men’s title in the 2024 Valsir Mountain Running World Cup. His fellow Kenyan Joyce Muthoni Njeru won the women’s race, but Scout Adkin’s third-place finish was enough for the Briton to take the overall series title.
Kipngeno simply needed a top-five finish in the Val Bregaglia Trail to secure the overall crown, but the places behind him were far from set in stone. In the women’s contest, just 10 points separated Adkin from Njeru at the start of the day’s race, but calculations would still need to be applied in terms of number of races to count (the best eight results count) and bonus points for participation in the finals, so the women’s title was still very much up in the air.
The 23km race, which has 850m of ascent, starts in Promontogno in Switzerland before crossing the border into Italy at Castasegna.
Josphat Kiprotich led out to the 3km point, with Paul Machoka just behind him, followed by Richard Omaya Atuya. Theodore Klein was next in this small group, then Philemon Ombogo Kiriago.
Machoka led at 10km, but Kipngeno was on his shoulder and Klein remained in contact. It remained close with Michael Selelo Saoli chasing, followed by Kiriago and Kiprotich.
By the waterfalls, Kipngeno had made his move and was now in the lead ahead of Klein and Machoka. The positions further back were also continually changing.
Out in front, though, Kipngeno could not be caught and eventually won in 1:34:03 with Machoka coming through to take second in 1:34:22 ahead of Klein (1:34:53).
Kipngeno duly secured the men’s World Cup title with 330 points, comfortably ahead of Kiprotich (251) with Kiriago a close third (248).
In the women’s race, Jeruto Kisang was the early leader, but Adkin was right on her heels. There was then a slight gap back to Muthoni Njeru and Susanna Saapunki.
At 10km, Muthoni Njeru led from Jeruto Kisang and Adkin. By the time they reached the Cascate Acquafraggia, there was still very little in it. Muthoni Njeru had edged ahead slightly, but she was still being chased hard by Jeruto Kisang and Adkin in that order.
Muthoni Njeru could not be caught and she eventually took the win in 1:47:45. In an exciting sprint finish, Jeruto Kisang finished seven seconds ahead of Adkin in 1:48:51.
With Adkin’s win and third place here at the finals, plus five bonus points adding for participating in the finals, she led the World Cup standings with 339 points, putting her one point ahead of Muthoni Njeru. Jeruto Kisang was third overall with 313.
Kirsty Reade (WMRA) for World Athletics
