Kenya’s Joyce Muthoni Njeru and Patrick Kipng’eno are set to compete at the Valsir Mountain Running World Cup this weekend in Chiavenna, Lombardy, Italy, known for its rich mountain running tradition. The event, taking place on October 12-13, features two critical races: the final short uphill race, Lagunc KM Verticale, on Saturday, followed by the long-distance Val Bregaglia Trail on Sunday.
Both races are point-to-point, with the vertical race starting in Chiavenna and climbing to Lagunc, while the Val Bregaglia Trail begins just over the Swiss border and concludes in Chiavenna. Athletes can earn 100 points for winning both races, making this weekend pivotal for the World Cup standings. Current rankings indicate that six men and three women could potentially claim the championship.
Muthoni leads the women’s standings, bolstered by her recent victories at Broken Arrow, Trofeo Nasego, and Smarna Gora. She holds 288 points, leading Britain’s Scout Adkin, who has 244 points and has also enjoyed a successful season with wins at Montemuro Vertical Run and La Montee du Nid d’Aigle, along with a second-place finish at Sierre Zinal. Close behind Adkin is Kenya’s Philaries Jeruto Kisang, in third place with an impressive season that includes podium finishes in four out of six races, just two points shy of Adkin. Kisang’s success at this venue last year could be a significant advantage.
In the men’s category, Kipng’eno is currently leading with 235 points but faces stiff competition. His closest rival, Philemon Ombogo Kiriago, is only eight points behind, following a consistently strong season that included a notable contest against Kilian Jornet at Sierre Zinal. Josphat Kiprotich is also in the mix, sitting just 11 points behind Kiriago, with multiple second-place finishes to his name.
Additionally, three other Kenyan athletes are in contention for World Cup points: Michael Selelo Saoli, who won Giir di Mont; Richard Omaya Atuya, who has triumphed in nearly all the World Cup races he entered this year with 151 points; and Paul Machoka, who is also competing. All six runners are participating in both races, setting the stage for an exciting weekend of mountain running.
