Richard Omaya Atuya and Joyce Muthoni Njeru secured a double victory for Kenya at the Smarna Gora Race, the 10th event in this season’s Valsir Mountain Running World Cup, held on Saturday under cool, drizzly, and misty conditions near Ljubljana, Slovenia. The 10km race, featuring a 710m ascent, posed a challenging terrain due to the damp and muddy conditions, making the technical rock sections tricky.
In the men’s race, Omaya Atuya, who had previously won at Grossglocker and La Montée du Nid d’Aigle, took an early lead. However, his compatriot Josphat Kiprotich soon overtook him, with Paul Machoka and Michael Selelo Saoli close behind. By the second timing point, Kiprotich led, though it remained tight, with Omaya Atuya just five seconds behind. The race remained competitive until the final stages when Omaya Atuya regained the lead and finished with a race record of 41:30. Machoka secured second place in 42:05, with Selelo Saoli finishing third in 42:31. Kiprotich, despite fading to fourth, earned valuable World Cup points with a time of 43:02.
In the women’s race, Scout Adkin led early on, but Muthoni Njeru quickly caught up and took a 40-second lead by the second timing point. Muthoni Njeru extended her advantage and crossed the finish line first in 49:43. Adkin finished second in 50:13, while Philaries Jeruto Kisang took third place in 52:52. Last year’s winner, Susanna Saapunki, fought back to claim fourth place in 53:21, narrowly ahead of Nusa Mali in fifth.
Adkin had already won the Smarna Gora Record, a shorter uphill race, earlier in the morning, while Luka Kovacic claimed victory in the men’s event of the same.
With just two races to go, excitement is building in the World Cup competition. With today’s point, Adkin has overtaken Jeruto Kisang to move into second place in the rankings. Muthoni Njeru has strengthened her position as leader with 288 points, but it is still possible for Adkin and Jeruto Kisang to catch her next weekend.
In the men’s World Cup standings, the top four remain the same, but Omaya Atuya has overtaken Machoka to move into fifth place. It’s all very close at the top, with Patrick Kipngeno on 235 points, Philemon Ombogo Kiriago on 227 and Kiprotich now on 216. It’s all to play for in Chiavenna.
