By GPC Desk and World Athletics
Kenya’s Philemon Kiriago retained his World Mountain Running Association (WMRA) World Cup title after winning the classic race at Défi des Couleurs in Quebec, Canada, as Germany’s Nina Engelhard completed a weekend double on Sunday.
Kiriago won the approximately 16km uphill-and-downhill race in 1:11:24, beating American Mason Coppi by 19 seconds, while Canada’s Remi Leroux finished third in 1:13:21.
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The victory secured Kiriago’s second consecutive overall World Cup title, taking his season tally to 396 points. His compatriots Richard Atuya and Michael Saoli finished second and third in the overall standings with 290 and 223 points, respectively.
Kiriago, who finished fourth in Saturday’s uphill race, took control early in Sunday’s contest and maintained his lead despite a late challenge from Coppi on the final descent.
Coppi clocked 1:11:43, while Leroux completed the podium in 1:13:21. Mexico’s Brayan Rodriguez finished fourth in 1:15:02, narrowly ahead of American Adam Sjolund.
In the women’s race, Engelhard underlined her dominance by winning in 1:20:34, more than three minutes ahead of Kenya’s Joyce Muthoni Njeru, who finished second in 1:23:45. France’s Nelie Clement was third in 1:23:51.
Engelhard had also won Saturday’s uphill race, completing a double after victories in both disciplines. She is the reigning world uphill and classic champion.
Njeru’s second-place finish proved crucial in the overall women’s standings. She drew level with compatriot Ruth Gitonga on 384 points after Gitonga missed the Canadian competition because of visa issues.
Gitonga nevertheless retained the overall title on countback, having recorded more victories during the season. Britain’s Kirsty Skye Dickson finished third overall with 264 points.
Kenyan athletes also featured prominently in the final discipline standings. Atuya won the men’s uphill World Cup title with 142 points, ahead of Kiriago on 110 and Patrick Kipngeno on 100.
Njeru claimed the women’s uphill title with 134 points, finishing ahead of Dickson on 126 and Gitonga on 110.
In the classic discipline, Gitonga topped the women’s standings with 150 points, followed by Njeru on 92 and Italy’s Arianna Dentis on 84. Saoli won the men’s classic classification with 100 points, while Ephantus Njeri and Atuya tied for second on 92 points each.
The Canadian event brought the 2026 WMRA World Cup season to a close, with Kiriago and Gitonga securing the overall titles in the men’s and women’s competitions, respectively.
