The Men’s Race

Elgeyo Marakwet’s Timothy Kibet continued his admirable start to life as a mountain runner when he won the men’s 11.54 km race at the Mount Longonot Trail Challenge in Naivasha on Saturday.

Kibet took the top honour ahead of Saoli Selelo (1:04:05) who claimed second as Ephantus Njeri came third in 1:04:06 in what was a cutthroat race between the two.

The road runner-turned-mountain runner admitted a tweak in his career is the best decision he has ever made in recent years.

“I love the fact that I changed from road running to mountain running and I can say I don’t regret. Judging by the race today and the results, I can say it was a great decision. This was my second race as a mountain runner, after transitioning from road races and I am glad that I won,” he said.

The race was a test in endurance, speed and mental fortitude for everyone involved, with competitors required to ascend all the way to the summit of the 2,776m mountain before returning downhill to finish at the gate of the Mount Longonot Park.

It was a fact not lost on Kibet who fell midway through the race and had to muster the energy and motivation to get to the front of the leading pack.

“The weather was good but the course was really tough. I even fell down somewhere in the race and had to really work hard to get back to the front. It was all a matter of pushing on for the win because I really wanted it badly,” the Milimani Runners athlete said.

The Women’s Race

Road runner Ruth Gitonga had a debut to remember when she topped the women’s 11.54km race at the Mount Longonot Trail Challenge on Saturday in Naivasha.

The Run2Gether athlete clocked 1:14:50 to take first place, ahead of teammate Philaries Kisang’ (1:15:25) and Joyline Chepngeno (1:16:45) in second and third respectively.

Gitonga admitted winning the race was not part of the script.

” To be honest, I had not trained for mountain running coming into today’s race. I am more of a road race specialist and so I didn’t give myself much of a chance coming into today’s competition,” the winner admitted.

For Kisang’, the search for a first ever win on home soil, having joined mountain running in 2022.

“The course was much more difficult than what I am used to. I have participated in this trail before but it has never been this tough as it was today,” the Iten-born said.

The 28-year-old is nonetheless grateful for the opportunity to get up to speed with her fitness ahead of the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships.

“I thank God for the grace to finish second today. It prepares me for the World Championships where my goal is to win the title,” Kisang’ said.

See the full results from the event. 

Saturday’s race was a World Mountain Running Association (WMRA) ranking event through which Kenya hopes to host the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in the near future.