By World Athletics
Philemon Kiriago and Ruth Mwihaki Gitonga claimed victories in the long-distance races at Transvulcania on Saturday (9), leading a sweep for Kenyan athletes across the four races held during the World Mountain Running Association (WMRA) World Cup weekend on La Palma where all four winners also broke course records.
Kiriago won the men’s long-distance race in 2:07:43 after a dramatic battle over the closing stages with France’s Anthony Felber, who finished just four seconds behind in 2:07:47. Richard Omaya Atuya and Sweden’s Linus Hultegård shared third place in 2:08:15 after crossing the line together.
Gitonga was more dominant in the women’s race, taking control on the long climb before extending her advantage on the descent to win in a course record of 2:22:50. Fellow Kenyan Joyce Muthoni Njeru finished second in 2:25:39, with Great Britain’s Kirsty Skye Dickson taking third in 2:33:21.
The long-distance race, the first in that discipline on this year’s WMRA World Cup circuit, covered 25 kilometres with more than 2100 metres of ascent on the volcanic terrain of La Palma in the Canary Islands. Starting from the Faro de Fuencaliente lighthouse, runners tackled the demanding Ruta de los Volcanes route before finishing at Refugio de El Pilar.
In the men’s race, the Kenyan Run2gether On Trail trio of Atuya, Kiriago and Ephantus Mwangi Njeri quickly moved to the front and remained together through the early stages. Atuya gradually opened a gap on the long climb and reached the high point at Las Deseadas more than two minutes ahead of Kiriago and Njeri.
But the race changed dramatically on the descent. Kiriago, the 2025 world mountain running champion, steadily reeled in his teammate before moving into the lead on the final downhill section. Felber also closed rapidly in the closing kilometres, pushing Kiriago all the way to the finish before the Kenyan prevailed by four seconds.
Atuya held on for third after matching Hultegård stride for stride on the run-in, while Njeri was forced to withdraw following a fall on the descent.
Gitonga’s victory was built on the climb. After establishing an early lead, she steadily increased her advantage over Njeru and Dickson through the ascent to Las Deseadas, reaching the summit around three minutes clear.
The Kenyan maintained her momentum over the descent to seal an emphatic victory and underline her growing status on the World Cup circuit. Njeru held on for second, while Dickson secured another podium finish after placing runner-up in the uphill race earlier in the weekend.
Two days prior, Kiriago and Gitonga had both secured podium finishes in the uphill races as compatriots Atuya and Njeru claimed victories in record-breaking performances.
A high-calibre elite field took to the start line in the Port of Tazacorte on Thursday (7) for a 7.3km course demanding 1200m of vertical ascent.
The opening kilometres offered a steep start as athletes wound their way along zigzags overlooking the sea, through verdant terrain along the GR131 long-distance hiking trail in the warm evening sunshine. There was some brief respite in the form of a gentle road section, but the course’s character shifted markedly as the field progressed beyond the El Time Viewpoint at 513 metres and the Hungarian House at 624 metres. Beyond those landmarks, the route became considerably more hostile – rocky underfoot and unrelentingly steep – while descending cloud cover brought cooler temperatures and added a further dimension of difficulty.
Kiriago and Gitonga lead Kenyan sweep at Transvulcania
May 11, 2026 at 09:30 AM
By World Athletics Philemon Kiriago and Ruth Mwihaki Gitonga claimed victories in the long-distance races at Transvulcania on Saturday (9), leading a sweep for Kenyan athletes across the four races held during the World Mountain Running Association (WMRA) World Cup weekend on La Palma where all four winners also broke course records. Kiriago won the […]
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