Trail athletes from the north and east of Africa dominated the Ledro Sky Trentino Grand Finale of the Golden Trail World Series, which took place in Trentino, Italy, over the weekend, while athletes from the south prepare to tackle Ryan Sandes’ signature race on Table Mountain at the Cape Town Trail Marathon on Saturday.
Moroccan athlete, Elhousine Ellazzaoui, has established himself as the world’s best marathon-distance trail athlete, and defended his title on Sunday to become the winner of the Grand Finale over a challenging 21km mountain course (with 1600m of elevation gain). Elazzaoui also clinched the overall series win for the second year in succession.
Top Kenyan trail athlete, Patrick Kipngeno, finished 20 seconds behind ‘The Flying Camel’ (as Elazzaoui is affectionately known) in second place.
Relatively unheralded Kenyan, Paul Machoka, led the race early on and held off American Tayor Stack by just 10 seconds for the final podium position with two other Kenyans, World Mountain Running Classic champion, Philemon Kiriago, and Michael Selelo Saoli taking 5th and 6th respectively.
Athletes from Europe were shut out of the GTWS Grand Finale top five for the first time with Swiss orienteer, Joey Hadorn, first from Europe, finishing in 7th position.
“This is an historic day for me – I ran smart and it was a race that I really enjoyed,” said Elazzaoui, who also won the Grand Finale Prologue over 6,9km on Friday. “It was also my objective to win again at the Grand Finale and I’m really happy that I did so”.
American Lauren Gregory ran the race of her life to come from behind and take the lead from Romanian Madalina Florea to win the women’s competition on Saturday, run over the same course.
Florea won the prologue on Friday and her second place in the 21km race, 2 min 31 sec behind Gregory, secured her the overall series victory.
Spanish athlete, Sara Alonso, finished third on Saturday and second to Florea on the overall standings, with Gregory in third.
Kenya’s Joyce Njeru struggled in the final quarter of Saturday’s race, falling back from third position to finish 8th and ending the season 5th in the overall standings.
Meanwhile down south, competition is likely to be fierce for the top of the podium and first prize of R50 000 in the Cape Town Trail Marathon’s ‘King Protea’ race over 43km (with 1885m vertical ascent). Zimbabwe-born Collin Kanyimo faces a tough battle to retain the title he won last year.
The route is the same as that run last year, following the severe 2024 mountain fires, with a climb up Kloof Corner to the contour path after athletes have ascended Signal’s Hill from the start at Green Point precinct.
Athletes will run around the face of Table Mountain before summiting the Saddle below Devil’s Peak and descending into Newlands Forest en route to the turn at Kirstenbosch. The homeward run returns through Newlands Forest at a lower level, passing near King’s Block House before racing home via Deer Park and Kloof Nek and the finish back at Green Point.
The familiar face of German athlete, Marcel Hoeche, will again be seen in action and will be wanting to go at least one better than his fourth place at the Otter TERREX Trail two weeks back, while Eastern Cape athlete, Mvuyisi Gcogco, loves to race on Table Mountain, where he has enjoyed past success.
Local athlete, Kyle Bucklow, third last year, will be aiming for further success, while Jacques Buys, Iain Peterkin and Jacques du Plessis will likely be close to the front of the field, at least through halfway.
Landie Greyling leads the line-up in the women’s race. She enjoyed success on the road at Two Oceans and Comrades this year and is one of the country’s most experienced trail exponents, having won at both the Otter and Whale of Trail over the years and having placed third in the Cape Town Trail Marathon two years back.
Fast-improving Maryke Van Zyl won at Pass to Pass this year and will challenge strongly, while strong-running Kirsten Heath is back in competition and could challenge for victory.
Siboniso Soldaka will be tough to dethrone in the 22km race, with Lekaka Remaketse and Wano Katjiri best placed to upset the favourite. Lijan Burger and Rebecca Watney (who placed second at the Otter two weeks ago) are likely to fight it out for line honours in the women’s race.
Ledro Sky Trentino Grand Finale of the Golden Trail World Series
Men’s race results
1. Elhousine Elazzaoui (Morocco – Nnormal) – 1:58:30
2. Patrick Kipngeno (Kenya – Run2gether On Trail) – 1:58:50
3. Paul Machoka (Kenya – Atletica Saluzzo) – 1:59:32
4. Taylor Stack (USA – Brooks) – 1:59:42
5. Philemon Kiriago (Kenya – Run2gether On Trail) – 2:00:15
6. Michael Selelo Saoli (Kenya – Run2gether On Trail) – 2:00:18
7. Joey Hadorn (Switzerland – Salomon) – 2:02:08
8. Fabián Venero (Spain – Salomon) – 2:03:07 (Open Category)
9. Daniel Pattis (Italy – Brooks) – 2:03:27
10. Ïu Net (Spain – New Balance) – 2:05:24 (Open Category)
Men’s overall ranking
1. Elhousine Elazzaoui (Morocco – Nnormal) – 1,000 points
2. Patrick Kipngeno (Kenya – Run2gether On Trail) – 953 points
3. Philemon Kiriago (Kenya – Run2gether On Trail) – 892 points
4. Taylor Stack (USA – Brooks) – 790 points
5. Michael Selelo Saoli (Kenya – Run2gether On Trail) – 785 points
6. Daniel Pattis (Italy – Brooks) – 741 points
7. Joey Hadorn (Switzerland – Salomon) – 704 points
8. Dominik Rolli (Switzerland – Salomon) – 686 points
9. Cesare Maestri (Italy – Nike ACG) – 685 points
10. Paul Machoka (Kenya – Atletica Saluzzo) – 671 points
Women’s race results
1. Lauren Gregory (USA – Nike ACG) – 02:22:51
2. Madalina Florea (Romania – Scott Running) – 02:25:22
3. Sara Alonso (Spain – Asics) – 02:25:54
4. Lucija Krkoc (Slovenia) – 02:27:00 (Open Category)
5. Malen Osa (Spain – Salomon) – 02:27:45
6. Barbora Bukovjan (Czech Republic) – 02:27:46 (Open Category)
7. Rosa Lara Feliu (Spain – Compressport) – 02:28:37
8. Joyce Njeru (Kenya – Nnormal) – 02:29:19
9. Marie Nivet (France – Nike ACG) – 02:33:59
10. Anna Gibson (USA – Brooks) – 02:35:40
Women’s overall standings
1. Madalina Florea (Romania – Scott Running) – 958 points
2. Sara Alonso (Spain – Asics) – 913 points
3. Lauren Gregory (USA – Nike ACG) – 878 points
4. Malen Osa (Spain – Salomon) – 849 points
5. Joyce Njeru (Kenya – Nnormal) – 836 points
6. Rosa Lara Feliu (Spain – Compressport) – 753 points
7. Marie Nivet (France – Nike ACG) – 710 points
8. Anna Gibson (USA – Brooks) – 709 points
9. Alice Gaggi (Italy – Brooks) – 669 points
10. Courtney Coppinger (USA – Brooks) – 660 points
