The 45th edition of the Smarna Gora Race, on the outskirts of the Slovenian capital of Ljubljana, provided the tenth stage of the 2024 Valsir Mountain Running World Cup today. With many of the athletes leading the World Cup rankings taking part, we knew it would be a highly competitive race and it certainly didn’t disappoint, despite the challenging conditions.

Cool (10 degrees centigrade), drizzly and misty conditions greeted the runners, making it a good temperature for running, but muddy in places with low visibility. The damp conditions would also make the technical sections of rock tricky for the athletes.

Many of the runners taking part warmed up by running in the Smarna Gora Record last night. This short blast uphill (1.85k with 360m of ascent) is always a good prelude to the longer race. Scout Adkin won for the women and Luka Kovacic for the men.

The runners took on a 10k course with 710m of ascent. A lot of the climbing is done in the first 4k, up to the summit of Grmada, which can stretch out the field. This climb is also surprisingly technical and steep in places, with sections requiring the athletes to use their hands to negotiate tree roots and big rocks. It has some of the most technical sections we’ve seen in this year’s World Cup. Once the first climb is complete, the 2k descent can really shake things up and it can then become a case of holding on during the last climb to finish outside the Gostilna Ledinek Inn at the summit. It’s incredible that this course, which is so close to a big city, offers a pure mountain running experience.

THE WOMEN’S RACE

With a race including last year’s winner, Susanna Saapunki (New Balance) and the top three athletes in the World Cup standings, Joyce Muthoni Njeru (Atletico Saluzzo), Philaries Jeruto Kisang (Run2gether On Running) and Scout Adkin (HOKA EU), we knew it would be a hard fought race.

Initially it was Adkin who took the lead coming towards the first timing point, though Muthoni Njeru was right on her heels with one second separating them. It was no surprise at all to see Jeruto Kisang and Saapunki just behind them. Slovenian Nusa Mali (AD Kronos), who was third here last year, was 10 seconds behind, then Alice Gaggi (La Recastello Radici) was still in contention with the leading group.

By the second timing point Muthoni Njeru had overtaken Adkin and opened up a 40 second lead. Jeruto Kisang was by now a minute further back, with Mali in fourth, Gaggi in fifth and Saapunki had dropped back to sixth place. Could Adkin claw back that 40 seconds and what did Jeruto Kisang have left in the tank? It was still anybody’s race at this point.

Ultimately Muthoni Njeru could not be caught and she held off Adkin to win in 49.43. Adkin took second in 50.13, then there was a gap to Jeruto Kisang in third in 52.52. Saapunki fought her way back to take fourth in 53.21, with Mali just behind for fifth in 53.27.

THE MEN’S RACE

The men’s race looked equally strong, though without the top two in the current World Cup standings, Patrick Kipngeno and Philemon Ombogo Kiriago (both of Run2gether On Running). But that made sure there was all to play for, with Josphat Kiprotich (Run2gether On Running) 49 points behind Kipngeno and Michael Selelo Saoli (Run2gether On Running) also having a big opportunity to close the gap on that top three.

But it was Richard Omaya Atuya (Run2gether On Running), the men’s winner at Grossglocker and La Montee du Nid d’Aigle, who led in the first stages. Kiprotich was a few seconds behind, with Paul Machoka (Atletica Saluzzo) right behind him and Selelo Saoli 10 seconds further back.

By the second timing point it was all change. Kiprotich was now leading but it was incredibly close, with Omaya Atuya five seconds behind, then another five seconds to Selelo Saoli, with Machoka right behind him. Former winner Timotej Becan (KGT Papez) lay in fifth at this point, with just a minute separating the top five. A trio of Italian runners, Andrea Elia (La Recastello Radici), Alberto Vender and Tiziano Moia (Gemonatletica S.R.L. Dil.) sat just behind him. In fact the battle for the minor places among the Italian runners was an interesting race in itself.

Omaya Atuya did catch Kiprotich in the final stages and he took the win in 41.30, a new men’s record. Machoka took second in 42.05 and Seleo Saoli third in 42.31. Kiprotich in fact faded to fourth place (43.02), though this will still gain him valuable World Cup points, and Elia won the battle for fifth in 42.07.

WORLD CUP STANDINGS

With just two races to go, it’s getting very exciting in the World Cup competition. With today’s point Scout Adkin now overtakes Philaries Jeruto Kisang to move into second place. Joyce Muthoni Njeru has strengthened her position as leader with 288 points, but 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 Richard Omaya Atuya overtakes Paul 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 Josphat Kiprotich now on 216. It’s all to play for in Chiavenna.