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WORLD MOUNTAIN RUNNING ASSOCIATION

Author: Kirsty Reade

KIPNGENO DOES DOUBLE AND MUTHONI NJERU EXECUTES PERFECT WIN AT TROFEO NASEGO

Written by Kirsty Reade on . Posted in Latest News, Latest News - Feature Home Slide.

Yesterday’s Vertical Nasego provided an exciting start to a weekend of World Cup racing in Casto, Italy. Andrea Mayr took her fifth win and Patrick Kipngeno made it three in a row for him. Today it was the turn of Trofeo Nasego, our next long mountain Gold Label race in the 2024 Valsir Mountain Running World Cup. This was the 23rd edition of this historic race.

Most of the runners from yesterday’s Vertical Nasego were doubling up, giving us the chance to see some of the epic duels replayed on a longer, up and down, course. The runners would take on a 21.5k course, with a lot of fast, runnable sections but one very notable climb. From the start in Casto at 400m it climbs slowly for the first 6km, before flattening off for 6k, then comes the big climb up of around 750m up to Rifugio Nasego, before a long descent down to Famea for the finish. Conditions were very hot, which would certainly play a major part in the racing.

MEN’S RACE

The men and women start together in this race. The men set off fast through the streets of Casto, and a small group separated from the others quickly, comprising of Josphat Kiprotich, Patrick Kipngeno and Philemon Ombogo Kiriago (all Run2gether) and Paul Machoka (Atletica Saluzzo), Michael Selelo Saoli (Run2gether) and Luciano Rota (La Recastello Radici Group) just behind.

But there was a long way to go, and in this race the big climb up to Rifugio Nasego, then the ensuing long descent into Famea, can really shake up the positions.

It was Kipngeno who reached Rifugio Nasego first, and by this point he had a lead of around 90 seconds on Kiriago, with Machoka sitting in third place at this point. The battle for the places behind them had heated up on the big climb and it was now a matter of whether these three runners could hold on down the long descent and then in the scramble for the sprint finish through the streets of Famea.

Kipngeno did hold on for the win in emphatic fashion, in 1.31.26. Kiriago, last year’s winner, took second in 1.33.59, and Machoka held on for third in 1.34.38. Kiprotich was very close behind (1.34.54) and Cesare Maestri (NIKE) came through to take a brilliant fifth in 1.37.37.

WOMEN’S RACE

After an exciting women’s Vertical Nasego yesterday, the long race looked wide open. Last year’s winner of both races and yesterday’s women’s champion, Andrea Mayr (SV Schwechat/Hoolirun), was on the start. Could she do the double double?

Leading the charge through the streets of Casto for the women was Philaries Jeruto Kisang (Run2gether), who was beaten in the duel with Mayr in the vertical race yesterday. She was no doubt looking to go one better here. Behind her were Gloria Chebet (also Run2gether) and Joyce Muthoni Njeru (Atletica Saluzzo), with Mayr and yesterday’s third placed woman, Susanna Saapunki (New Balance), just behind them.

But after the long climb it was Mayr who reached Rifugio Nasego first. Next to arrive was Muthoni Njeru and she was followed by Saapunki. It was all going to come down to the descent. It wasn’t long before Muthoni Njeru made her move, overtaking Mayr at around 17km and quickly opening a gap of 45 seconds. On the descent Naomi Lang (Scottish Athletics) was in sixth, but such was the skill and speed of her descending that she overtook Jeruto Kisang and Vivien Bonzi (La Recastello Radici Group).

Muthoni Njeru could not be caught and she took the win in 1.51.33. Mayr maintained second in 1.53.02 and Saapunki was third in 1.54.00. Lang finished strongly for fourth, almost challenging for third in the end, in 1.54.23, with Bonzi in fifth in 1.54.44.

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MAYR TAKES FIFTH WIN AND IT’S THREE IN A ROW FOR KIPNGENO AT VERTICAL NASEGO

Written by Kirsty Reade on . Posted in Latest News, Latest News - Feature Home Slide.

Round eight of this year’s Valsir Mountain Running World Cup – a double header – kicked off in style today in Casto in the North of Italy with Vertical Nasego. Along with Trofeo Nasego, which takes place tomorrow, this event is a race steeped in mountain running history. This is the 23rd year of the event, which seems to get bigger and better every year.

Today’s Vertical Nasego was our next short uphill Gold Label race for the World Cup. As well as the World Cup competition it was also incorporating a Three Nations competition between England, Ireland and Scotland.

Runners took on 1000m of ascent over 4.3km in blazing heat, beginning with a gradual climb from Casto towards Briale village. But then things kick up a notch as the route becomes steeper and more technical as it winds its way up past Rifugio Nasego (at 1270m) to the finish line at 1430m.

THE WOMEN’S RACE

The women set off first, with the men’s race starting 45 minutes later. Last year we saw Andrea Mayr (SV Schwechat/Hoolirun) take her fourth win at Vertical Nasego. Today she faced stiff competition from a stacked women’s field that included current women‘s World Cup leader Scout Adkin (HOKA EU), the always strong Philaries Jeruto Kisang (Run2gether), Joyce Muthoni Njeru (Atletica Saluzzo) and Susanna Saapunki (New Balance), among many others capable of making the podium.

It was Kisang who decided to lead it out, as the women got off to a very fast start through the streets of Casto. As the climbing began she maintained her lead, but was very closely chased by Saapunki, Mayr and Adkin. We know how strong Kisang is on these uphill only courses, but you can never bet against Mayr on this particular one! Would we see a repeat of that unforgettable duel between Mayr and Kisang in the uphill race at the World Championships last year? Or would Saapunki or Adkin come through in the later stages?

Mayr kept Kisang in her sights and with 350m of climbing remaining, she made her move. This steeper terrain is very much Mayr’s territory, and although Kisang kept her in her sights, she wasn’t able to catch her. Mayr took her fifth win in 40.51, with Kisang in second in 41.34 and Saapunki in third in 41.44.

THE MEN’S RACE

Defending champion, Patrick Kipngeno (Run2gether), made his intentions clear at the pre-race press conference, saying that he was going for the record. This would also make it three in a row for him. Standing in his way were a trio of his team mates from team Run2gether – Philemon Ombogo Kiriago, coming off his second place at Sierre-Zinal, Josphat Kiprotich and Michael Selelo Saoli. In addition Henri Aymonod (The North Face) and Paul Machoka (Atletica Saluzzo) were toeing the start line.

It was Kiprotich who set the pace initially, with Kipngeno leading the chase, closely followed by Kiriago and Machoka. But as we saw in the women’s race, a lot can happen in this race, especially when the gradient changes and sections become more technical.

Kipngeno decided it was time to strike and as the men emerged onto a steeper part of open mountainside he had taken the lead from Kiprotich. We expected to see either Kiriago or Machoka in third but it was in fact the young US athlete Meikael Beaudoin-Rousseau (The Trail Team), who was third at this year’s Broken Arrow 22k race, who had worked his way up to third. What would happen in this final stretch?

Kipngeno couldn’t be caught and he took the men’s win in 34.28. But the battle behind him got even more interesting when Aymonod began his charge to the top. Kiprotich took second place in 35.03 and Aymonod came through for third place in 35.20, which was remarkable given that he spent yesterday helping Kilian Jornet on his Alpine Connections project, scaling Italy’s highest peak.

On Sunday 1st September Trofeo Nasego starts at 9.30am

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DOUBLE HEADER WEEKEND FOR WORLD CUP WITH VERTICAL AND TROFEO NASEGO

Written by Kirsty Reade on . Posted in Latest News, Latest News - Feature Home Slide.

DOUBLE HEADER WEEKEND FOR WORLD CUP WITH VERTICAL AND TROFEO NASEGO

After the excitement of Sierre-Zinal, the Valsir Mountain Running World Cup took a short break, but now it’s back with a bang with a double header in Italy. This weekend  we head to Casto in the North of Italy for Vertical Nasego and Trofeo Nasego.

On Saturday 31st August runners will take on Vertical Nasego, which packs in 1000m of ascent over 4.3km, making it our next short uphill Gold Label race. Then the following day our next long mountain Gold Label race, at 21.5k with 1330m of ascent, takes place at Trofeo Nasego. 18 nations will be represented over the weekend, and it will also incorporate a Three Nations competition between England, Ireland and Scotland, showing just how international this event has become.

The event centre, Casto, is in the province of Brescia in the Lombardy region of Italy. It’s a town that dates back to medieval times and retains a lot of its old-world charm with cobbled streets and historic buildings. Its green hills, forests and network of mountain trails make it a stunning location for mountain pursuits and a perfect venue for World Cup races.

WORLD CUP STANDINGS

As the 2024 World Cup heats up, after seven races and with five to go, we are excited to have many of the leading runners in Casto. In both the women’s and men’s competition we will have the top four runners: Scout Adkin, Joyce Muthoni Njeru, Philaries Jeruto Kisang, Gloria Chebet, Philemon Ombogo Kiriago, Patrick Kipngeno, Michael Selelo Saoli and Josphat Kiprotich. See the current standings in full here: https://www.wmra.info/world-cup-races/

VERTICAL NASEGO

Starting in Casto, the runners will begin climbing on roads and good trails as the course ascends gradually towards Briale village. But then the race really begins and the route becomes steeper and more technical as it winds its way up past Rifugio Nasego (at 1270m) to the eventual finish at 1430m.

THE FAVOURITES

Last year we saw Andrea Mayr (SV Schwechat/Hoolirun) and Patrick Kipngeno (Run2gether) take the wins (just as they did in 2022), and both will return to defend their titles this year. But they will face some very challenging competition.

For the women Scout Adkin (HOKA EU) is incredibly strong on uphill-only races and is also coming off an impressive second place in Sierre-Zinal. Philaries Jeruto Kisang (Run2gether) has been chasing Adkin at several of the World Cup races this year, and also has a strong track record on short uphill courses. Joyce Muthoni Njeru (Atletica Saluzzo) began this season by doing the double at Broken Arrow, Gloria Chebet (Run2gether) has been on three World Cup podiums this year and Susanna Saapunki (New Balance) finishes consistently high in World Cup fields. In addition we will see US runners Sarah Carter (The Trail Team) and Lauren Gregory (Northwoods Athletics), plus World Championships medallist Phillipa Williams (Dark Peak) and previous World Cup champion Sarah McCormack (INOV8).

In the men’s race Philemon Ombogo Kiriago (Run2gether) comes straight off an incredible Sierre-Zinal, where he finished a very close second to Kilian Jornet. Josphat Kiprotich and Michael Selelo Saoli (both of Run2gether) are also having very strong World Cups, with Kiprotich winning Piz Tri Vertical and coming fourth at Sierre-Zinal and Saoli winning Giir di Mont. Former winner of this race, as well as many other VKs over the years, Henri Aymonod (The North Face) will also be on the start line. Paul Machoka (Atletica Saluzzo) is also having a strong year, with top ten finishes at Grossglockner and Sierre-Zinal, and Tiziano Moia (Gemonatletica) finished second at Piz Tri Vertical this year. In addition we will see European Championships uphill race winner Joe Steward (Salford Harriers) and Roberto Delorenzi (Brooks), who finished fifth at Sierre-Zinal, alongside many other contenders.

TROFEO NASEGO

This will be the 23rd edition of Trofeo Nasego and it is a race that has seen many epic battles over the years. The runners will take on a 21.5k course, which has a lot of fast, runnable sections but one very notable climb. From the start in Casto at 400m it climbs slowly for the first 6km, before flattening off for 6k, then comes the big climb up of around 750m up to Rifugio Nasego, before a long descent down to Famea for the finish.

THE FAVOURITES

Most runners taking part in Vertical Nasego will double up in Trofeo Nasego. Unfortunately we will not see Mayr on Sunday for the women, but we will see Adkin, Saapunki, Williams, Njeru, Kisang, Chebut, Gregory and Carter, so the women’s race will certainly be highly competitive. As well as the main, overall event, we will also see an exciting Three Nations competition between England, Ireland and Scotland, adding even more interest to Trofeo Nasego.

For the men, most runners will also double up and the Three Nations contest will bring an additional depth to it, as with the women’s race. There are two notable additions to the men’s field for Trofeo Nasego and these are Cesare Maestri (NIKE), who is a former winner here and has stood on many World Cup podiums through the years, and Xavier Chevrier (ASICS), who has also finished on the podium here, as well as many others. They could add an extra twist to this already highly competitive race.

On Saturday 31st August for Vertical Nasego the women start at 10am and the men at 10.45am

On Sunday 1st September Trofeo Nasego starts at 9.30am

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