Kenya has named a formidable squad for the third World Mountain and Trail Running Championships scheduled to take place in Canfranc-Pirineos, Spain, from September 25 to 28.
The biennial global event, jointly organised by the World Mountain Running Association (WMRA), the International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU), and the International Trail Running Association (ITRA), is held with support from World Athletics.
A 16-member Team Kenya, which includes some of the world’s top-ranked mountain and trail runners, is expected to depart for Spain next Tuesday.
Kenya aim to surpass its impressive tally from the 2023 edition in Innsbruck-Stubaital, Austria, where the team bagged nine medals—five gold, two silver, and three bronze—to finish second overall behind France, who claimed six gold, two silver, and three bronze medals.
Athletics Kenya Mountain Running coordinator Peter Angwenyi said the expanded squad presents a real opportunity to push for the overall title.
“We entered a small team during the last championships. This time, we have a larger team, and we expect a significantly better performance in Spain. We must assert our authority as an athletics powerhouse,” said Angwenyi.
Kenya will compete in four categories: mountain classic (men and women), short trail (men and women), and vertical uphill (men and women). The country will not field entries in the U20 or 80 km long trail categories.
In the men’s mountain classic event, Philemon Kiriago, the reigning Mountain Running World Cup champion, leads a talented lineup. He will be joined by Paul Machoka, the World Cup runner-up, as well as Michael Selelo and Timothy Kibet.
The women’s mountain classic team will be spearheaded by 2023 bronze medalist Joyce Njeru, who will run alongside Gloria Chebet, Valentine Ruto, and Ruth Gitonga. Ruto finished second overall in the 2023 Mountain Running World Cup with 358 points, behind Britain’s Sarah Adkins who won with 388.
In the men’s short trail, Kenya will be represented by Sammy Chelangat, Timothy Kibet, and Ken Koros. Koros earned selection after finishing second at the Barng’etuny Mountain Running race.
Caroline Kimutai will be Kenya’s sole entrant in the women’s short trail category.
Double world champion Patrick Kipng’eno will lead Kenya's charge in the vertical uphill race, eyeing a third global title. He will be joined by Richard Atuya, who finished fourth in the Mountain Running World Cup, and Ken Koros.
In the women’s vertical uphill, 2023 silver medalist Philares Kisang, Mirriam Chepkirui and Janet Chepng’etich, the Africa 10,000m champion, will fly the Kenyan flag. Chepng’etich earned her place by winning the Barng’etuny Nandi Mountain Running race in January.
Canfranc—widely regarded as “the most beautiful and mountainous international station in Europe”—will welcome 73 national teams from five continents, with around 1,600 athletes expected to compete across dramatic, high-altitude terrain described as both spectacular and unforgiving.
