After the storm comes the calm. Following a cold and snowy Saturday, Olympic Valley delivered perfect weather to host a thrilling duel in the sun, with extremely close battles in both the men's and women's races. Elhousine Elazzaoui (Morocco – Nnormal) and Joyce Njeru (Kenya – Nnormal) claimed victory at the Broken Arrow Skyrace, the fifth race of the 2025 Golden Trail World Series (GTWS). It marked a second consecutive win for the Moroccan and the first triumph of the season for the Kenyan.

WOMEN’S RACE

Madalina Florea (Romania – Scott) and Joyce Njeru (Kenya – Nnormal) took control of the women’s race from the very start, seizing the lead and running side by side for most of the course. Not far behind, Anna Gibson (USA – Brooks), Lauren Gregory(USA – Nike Trail), and Marie Nivet (France) kept the pressure on, trailing the front duo by just over a minute.

Gibson gradually closed the gap, but not enough to turn it into a three-way battle. The showdown lasted until the final summit, where Njeru managed to gain a slight edge on the downhill toward Olympic Valley. She crossed the finish line in 2:01:06, with a lead of more than 45 seconds over Florea. Gibson, Gregory, and Alice Gaggi (Italy – Brooks) rounded out the women’s top five.

Joyce Njeru: “Last year, everything started here at Broken Arrow Skyrace. Coming back with today’s win, along with my second place in Friday’s Ascent, feels like a fresh start to my season. It’s been a great weekend for me, and I’m ready for what’s ahead.”

MEN’S RACE

The storyline of the 2025 GTWS season has become a three-way battle between Elhousine Elazzaoui, Patrick Kipngeno, and Philemon Kiriago (Kenya – Run2gether On Trail). And once again, this race brought the trio head-to-head for the first time this season, laying all their cards and strategies on the table.

From the starting gun, the men’s race was dominated by Elazzaoui, Kipngeno, and Kiriago, with Chris Allen (USA – Nike Trail) and Lukas Ehrle (Germany – Asics) chasing just 15 seconds behind until kilometer 9. By kilometer 12, the highest point of the course, the leading trio had stretched their advantage to 30 seconds. Allen managed to hold his gap until the finish line, while Ehrle lost ground and crossed the line a minute and a half later.

But the real fight was still up front. The three leaders stuck together right to the end, setting up a dramatic final sprint. Elazzaoui surged ahead and rang the famous Broken Arrow Skyrace bell with authority, clocking in at 1:44:53. With this victory, he reclaims the top spot in the 2025 GTWS rankings.

Elhousine Elazzaoui: “I’m really happy with today’s result. Coming back to America is always a good feeling for me. I’ve previously won Zegama-Aizkorri, which is my favorite race in the world. But now, winning here in the U.S. makes me really happy. Last year, I also won at Mammoth 26K and Headlands 27K, but claiming another victory here means a lot.”

WOMEN’S TOP 10

  1. Joyce Njeru (Kenya – Nnormal) – 2:01:06
  2. Madalina Florea (Romania – Scott) – 2:02:03
  3. Anna Gibson (USA – Brooks) – 2:03:46
  4. Lauren Gregory (USA – Nike Trail) – 2:06:02
  5. Alice Gaggi (Italy – Brooks) – 2:08:23
  6. Marie Nivet (France) – 2:08:53
  7. Jade Belzberg (Canada – Altra) – 2:09:06
  8. Allie McLaughlin (USA – Hoka) – 2:09:54
  9. Alexa Aragon (USA) – 2:11:24
  10. Sydney Petersen (USA – Brooks) – 2:14:20

MEN’S TOP 10

  1. Elhousine Elazzaoui (Morocco – Nnormal) – 1:43:53
  2. Philemon Ombogo Kiriago (Kenya – Run2gether On Trail) – 1:43:57
  3. Patrick Kipngeno (Kenya – Run2gether On Trail) – 1:44:11
  4. Christian Allen (USA – Nike Trail) – 1:44:46
  5. Lukas Ehrle (Germany – Asics) – 1:45:19
  6. Taylor Stack (USA – Brooks) – 1:46:11
  7. Cameron Smith (USA – Dynafit) – 1:46:25
  8. Mason Coppi (USA) – 1:47:32
  9. Andy Wacker (USA – The Trail Team) – 1:51:19
  10. Remi Leroux (Canada – Brooks) – 1:52:51

NEXT STOP: TEPEC TRAIL

Next week, the GTWS heads to Mexico for the sixth race of the season, marking the series’ first-ever stop on Latin American soil. Huasca de Ocampo, just a two-hour drive from Mexico City, will host a fast course through diverse landscapes that showcase the richness and culture of the Mexican countryside. Several of today’s key contenders—Elazzaoui, Kiriago, Kipngeno, Florea, and Njeru—are set to face off once again.