Kipngeno Extends Asian Dominance as Gitonga Claims Maiden GTWS Win on the Great Wall

The Jinshanling Great Wall Trail Race, the seventh and final stop of the Golden Trail World Series (GTWS) before the Muju Trail Grand Final in South Korea, once again underlined Patrick Kipngeno’s (Run2Gether On Trail) dominance in Asia. The Kenyan claimed his sixth victory in as many GTWS races on the continent, while his compatriot Ruth Gitonga (Run2Gether On Trail) celebrated her maiden victory on the circuit after a superb comeback in the closing kilometres. Both victories were built on patience and smart race management, with Kipngeno and Gitonga biding their time before taking control when it mattered most and pulling clear of their rivals in the decisive final stages.

In the men’s race, Philemon Kiriago (Run2Gether On Trail) finished second and strengthened his lead in the overall standings, helped by valuable bonus points collected across the segments. Joey Hadorn (Salomon) completed the podium after playing a leading role for much of the race and hitting the front as the runners made their way across the Great Wall.

In the women’s race, Hanna Groeber (IRCZRH) finished second after leading from the early stages. A fall in the second half of the race left her with pain in her left arm and hampered her chances in the decisive closing kilometres, where Gitonga completed her comeback to take the win. Caroline Kimutai (Salomon) rounded out the podium, collecting valuable points that bring her back within striking distance of the overall lead.

KIPNGENO CONQUERS THE GREAT WALL TO REMAIN UNBEATEN IN ASIA

In Jinshanling, nestled in the Yan Mountains just over two hours from Beijing, lies one of the most spectacular and best-preserved sections of the Great Wall of China. This remarkable setting provides the backdrop for a looped course that combines the punishing historic steps of the Great Wall with a relentless second half of climbs and descents over dry, sandy and technical terrain. Rather than featuring one decisive major climb, the 24-kilometre course with 1,889 metres of elevation gain delivers a constant test of endurance, with very few opportunities to recover.

The uphill segment (1.1 km at 16.6%) marked the runners’ entry onto the Great Wall and one of the most spectacular sections of the course. Philemon Kiriago was the fastest, clocking 8:08 to collect 10 valuable bonus points towards the overall standings. But it was Joey Hadorn who once again showcased his technical ability on the descents, making the most of the Great Wall’s steep downhill sections to emerge from it at the front of the race.

The sprint segment, packing 64 metres of climbing and 53 metres of descent into just 1.7 kilometres and alternating between sections on and off the Great Wall, also went to Kiriago, who completed it in 8:54. Up ahead, Michael Selelo (Run2Gether On Trail) was closing in on the front of the race, while Kiriago and Patrick Kipngeno remained patient, still around two minutes behind the leaders.

Once off the Great Wall, the gaps began to shrink. Over the following kilometres, the four men at the front gradually came closer together and, after the downhill segment (1.3 km at an average gradient of -17.9%) at kilometre 15.8, Kiriago and Kipngeno had reduced their deficit to barely 30 seconds. The segment itself, however, belonged to a familiar name. Just as he had done a week earlier at Myoko Trail in Japan, downhill specialist Anders Kjaerevic (VJ-shoes/Saysky) once again set the fastest time, stopping the clock at 4:24.

Kiriago and Kipngeno’s patience finally paid off in the closing kilometres as they caught the leaders. But the finale followed a familiar script from the previous week in Japan. Kipngeno reached the decisive stage with more left in the tank and, as the gradient kicked up again, made his move. The Kenyan pulled clear on his own as Kiriago began to lose ground on the climb.

Kipngeno crossed the finish line in 2:12:30, taking another victory in China and improving his time from the previous year by 30 seconds. Following his victories at Four Sisters Mountain Trail in 2024 and at the Great Wall in 2025, the Kenyan further extended his dominance in the Asian rounds of the Golden Trail World Series. Kiriago finished second, 1:54 behind, with Hadorn third at 3:12, producing exactly the same podium as in 2025.

Patrick Kipngeno’s second consecutive win of the Asian swing also moves him up to second in the overall standings with 830 points ahead of the Grand Final. Philemon Kiriago, on 870 points, strengthens his lead and will head to Muju Trail with the opportunity to claim his first overall Golden Trail World Series title. Elhousine Elazzaoui (NNormal), who led the standings before the two Asian rounds, drops to third with 824 points.

GITONGA TURNS THE RACE AROUND TO TRIUMPH IN JINSHANLING

Just as in the men’s race, more than 1,000 steep steps, with gradients exceeding 35%, welcomed the women onto the Great Wall. Hanna Groeber, winner of Myoko Trail just seven days earlier, and Caroline Kimutai, who had made her GTWS debut with victory on this course in 2025, reached this spectacular section at the front of the race.

The uphill segment went to Groeber, who clocked 10:47, just two tenths of a second faster than Kimutai. The pair remained virtually inseparable along the Great Wall, navigating terrain that was as spectacular as it was irregular, with tiny steps barely wide enough for a foot alternating with much higher ones. In between, smoother sections offered brief opportunities to find a rhythm and run more freely, as thousands of tourists cheered the athletes on.

The final section of the Great Wall marked the start of the toughest sprint segment of the season. Groeber was once again the fastest, completing it in 11:13, eight seconds ahead of Kimutai. By then, Ruth Gitonga, the only runner able to stay within reach of the leading pair, was already around two minutes behind.

Beyond the halfway point, the downhill segment took the runners onto twisting, technical terrain, with tight corners forcing them to brake hard before accelerating again. Barbora Bukovjan (Salomon) set the fastest time through this section in 5:31.

At the front, the head-to-head battle between Groeber and Kimutai showed no sign of letting up. But a heavy fall for the German completely changed the course of the race. Groeber injured her arm but, despite the pain, decided to continue to the finish, where a small fracture around her wrist was confirmed.

That was when Gitonga seized her opportunity. The Run2Gether On Trail athlete began to erase the two-minute deficit separating her from Groeber and Kimutai, producing a very different finish to the one she had experienced in Myoko, where she had faded after a strong start. This time, she had saved her strength for the decisive kilometres and grew stronger as the race progressed.

Gitonga first caught Kimutai, who was unable to match her pace on the climbs. She then reeled in Groeber, whose efforts to stay at the front were being hampered by the effects of her fall. Gitonga passed the German too and pulled clear towards the finish to claim her first Golden Trail World Series victory.

Ruth Gitonga crossed the line in 2:39:47, completing an impressive comeback over the second half of the race. Despite her injury, Groeber held on to second place, 1:26 behind, with Kimutai completing the podium in third at 3:45.

After seven races, Madalina Florea (Scott), who missed the Asian swing due to illness, retains the overall lead with 872 points. Thanks to her third place on the Great Wall, Caroline Kimutai moves back into second and now sits just 66 points behind Florea. Buoyed by her maiden GTWS victory, Ruth Gitonga will head to the Muju Grand Final in third place overall with 766 points.

In the team standings, Salomon secured the title thanks to a strong combination of results in China: Joey Hadornfinished third and Timothy Kibett fifth in the men’s race, while Caroline Kimutai and Barbora Bukovjan took third and fourth respectively in the women’s race.

SOUTH KOREA AWAITS FOR THE GTWS GRAND FINALE

In just one month, the Golden Trail World Series will head to South Korea for the first time for its Grand Final. Muju Trail will bring the season to a close with a decisive 25.6-kilometre course featuring 2,294 metres of elevation gain, making it one of the toughest routes in the history of the series.

With up to 300 points on offer, plus additional points available across the different segments, everything will remain up for grabs until the very last kilometre.

The Grand Final course features a relentless succession of ridgelines, steep gradients, trails winding through coniferous forests and rocky terrain, while also passing ancient Buddhist temples and some of the region’s most distinctive landscapes. The setting will showcase a different side of South Korea and lies at the heart of the country’s bid for the 2036 Summer Olympic Games.

The women’s race will take place on 24 October, before the men’s race brings the season to a close on 25 October. The Grand Final will bring together the top 30 men and women in the overall standings following the seven races of the regular season, alongside the winners of the Golden Trail National Series (GTNS) in China and the Golden Trail National Championships in Australia, France, Italy, Poland, Spain, the Czech Republic and Mexico.