GOLDEN TRAIL WORLD SERIES. MAMMOTH 26K 2024: RESULTS. Gold for Joyce and Elhousine

Posted by Corriendo la Vida on September 23, 2024 in golden trail series, golden trail series 2024, golden trail world series, golden trail world series 2024, mammoth 26k, trail running spain | 1 Comment

GOLDEN TRAIL WORLD SERIES. MAMMOTH 26K 2024: RESULTS. Gold For Joyce and Elhousine. Our GOLDEN TRAIL SERIES section brings to us the results of this race in Mammoth Lakes, USA

Joyce Njeru and Elhousine Elazzaoui claim their third victory of the season at the last stage of the GTWS, before the Grand Final, which will be held from 17th to 20thOctober in Ascona-Locarno in Switzerland.

Photo Mathis Decroux

GOLDEN TRAIL WORLD SERIES. MAMMOTH 26K 2024:

COURSE OVERVIEW

Home to just 8,000 permanent residents, Mammoth Lakes is a small ski town tucked high along the eastern flanks of California’s Sierra Nevada mountain range and surrounded by numerous Wilderness areas, National Forest land, and beneath 14,000ft peaks. This area is just north of Payahuunadü -Land of the Flowing Water– which has been cared for by Nüümü since time immemorial. It is a place you must experience to still not fully believe exists. The jagged mountains breach straight up from the valley floor and tower over everything in sight including endless world-class singletrack trails. The enchantment and beauty of the Eastern Sierra often lure people in, and they never leave.

The final stage of the Golden Trail World Series will be hosted by the true American-style trail-running festival, the Mammoth Trail Fest, organised among others by the ultra-trail runner Tim Tollefson. The race route: 26 kilometres and 1,200 metres of vertical elevation in the Californian mountains, kissing the top of Mammoth Mountain at 3,300m above sea level. This will be the last chance for runners to bag points this season and qualify for the Grand Final to be held at Il Golfo Dell’Isola in Italy. The aim: get into the world’s top 30 to qualify. Who will grab the crown in this last stage? Who will climb up the rankings in the nick of time? There will be winners and losers, joy and tears! See you on 22nd September to find out what happens at the Mammoth 26K!

GOLDEN TRAIL WORLD SERIES. MAMMOTH 26K 2023:

RESULTS. Gold For Joyce and Elhousine

The 2024 Mammoth Trail Fest 26k, the eighth race of the Golden Trail World Series, took place on Sunday, August 22, in Mammoth Lakes, California. This high-altitude race, covering 16.1 miles with over 3,900 feet of elevation gain, saw top athletes battle it out on rugged terrain at elevations reaching 11,053 feet.

Female Race

Under clear, sunny skies, the women’s race kicked off first, with Joyce Muthoni Njeru of Kenya, the current Golden Trail World Series leader, dominating from the start. Njeru took an early lead and never relinquished it, crossing the finish line with a time of 2:11:56, nearly three minutes ahead of her closest competitor, Madalina Florea of Romania. Florea, despite a fall and injury, finished strong in 2:14:51, while Anna Gibson surged in the final miles to secure third place.

Reactions

She said she didn’t want a sprint finish! Joyce Njeru (KEN – Atletica Saluzzo) took the reins from the outset and then forged her way up the climb creating a significant gap between her rivals; a gap that subsequently never reduced. “At the start of the race, I wasn’t feeling that great, especially due to the altitude. But from the kilometre 2 mark I started slowly feeling better and then I could attack on the climb and keep the lead to the finish. I’m thrilled with this victory, and I can’t wait for the final.”

For the third time this season, Madalina Florea (ROM – Salomon) took 2nd place, as she did at Headlands and the Marathon du Mont-Blanc.  “To be honest, considering how I felt before the start, I’m very pleased with this 2nd place! But I must admit I’m getting a bit fed up with coming in 2nd or 3rd! Let’s see if I can change that in the final!”

Photo Mathis Decroux

American Anna Gibson (USA – Brooks) rounds off the podium. “I tried to hold back in the first few kilometres. I knew that the altitude would take its toll on some of the girls, and I didn’t want to be one of them. So, I found my pace and started to push a little more once we arrived on the ridge. I managed to catch up to Rachel and it was really in the final kilometres that I managed to break away from her to get a podium finish.”

Results

1. Joyce Njeru (KEN – Atletica Saluzzo): 2:11:56 (+200 pts)
2.  Madalina Florea (ROM – Salomon): 2:14:51 (+188 pts)
3. Anna Gibson (USA – Brooks): 2:20:03 (+176 pts)
4. Rachel Drake (USA – Nike Trail): 2:20:40 (+166 pts)
5. Tabor Hemming (USA – Adidas Terrex): 2:21:47 (+156 pts)
6. Lauren Gregory (USA – Nike Trail): 2:21:57 (+150 pts)
7. Oria Liaci (CHE – CABV Martigny): 2:22:31 (+144 pts)
8. Allie Ostrander (USA – Nnormal): 2:23:15 (+140 pts)
9. Emkay Sullivan (USA – Craft): 2:23:39 (+136 pts)
10. Miao Yao (CHN – Salomon): 2:24:39 (+133 pts)

Photo Mathis Decroux

Male Race

In the men’s race, it was a thrilling duel between Morocco’s Elhousine Elazzaoui and Kenya’s Patrick Kipngeno. The two broke away from the pack at the summit of Mammoth Mountain, running together until the finish, where Elazzaoui won in a sprint. The fierce competition highlighted the top talent at this year’s event, making it an unforgettable race in the lead-up to the series finale.

“I tried several times today”, confided Elhousine Elazzaoui (MAR – Nnormal) at the finish line.  “Today, I wanted to try a new strategy, so I attacked several times. But Patrick was very strong, and he caught up with me each time. I tried again in the downhill, but he caught up with me again. But I won in the end, so I’m really happy.”

Patrick Kipngeno (KEN – Run2gether/ON AG) lost out to the Moroccan in the home straight. “When I set off, I decided I was going to finish on the podium, but at kilometre 7 I realised I could push in the climb and take the lead. I tried dropping Elhousine and leading to the finish, but I didn’t win. Nevertheless, I’m very happy with this 2nd place.”

Although he came in 3rd, Philemon Kiriago (KEN – Run2gether/ON AG) however revealed a well-oiled strategy between him and his teammate. “I had to set a blistering pace on the flat to exhaust the others so that Patrick could push in the climb. That was today’s plan, even if I had to stand aside afterwards. It almost worked, but we’ll have to push even harder in the final if we want to win!”

Photo Mathis Decroux

Results

1. Elhousine Elazzaoui (MAR – Nnormal): 1:49:35 (+200 pts)
2. Patrick Kipngeno (KEN – Run2gether/ON AG): 1:49:36 (+188 pts)
3. Philemon Kiriago (KEN – Run2gether/ON AG): 1:52:30 (+176 pts)
4. Rémi Bonnet (CHE – Salomon/Red Bull): 1:52:59 (+166 pts)
5. Daniel Pattis (ITA – Brooks): 1:59:31 (+156 pts)
6. Marco Filosi (ITA – Salomon): 2:00:00 (+150 pts)
7. Garett Corcoran (USA – Salt Lake Run Utah): 2:00:27 (+144 pts)
8. Cesare Maestri (ITA – Nike Trail): 2:00:47 (+140 pts)
9. Jonas Soldini (CHE – Salomon): 2:01:57 (+136 pts)
10. Rémi Leroux (CAN – Merrell): 02:02:46 (+133 pts)

Photo Mathis Decroux

GTWS 2024: CALENDAR

• 20th April: Kobe Trail – Women’s race – 21km/1,615m V+ – Kobe, Japan. ➜TV News + Asia Trip (Japan + China) 23’ Highlights on TV
• 21st April: Kobe Trail – Men’s race – 21km/1,615m V+ – Kobe, Japan. ➜ TV News + Asia Trip (Japan + China) 23’ Highlights on TV
• 27th April: Four Girls Mountain Trail – 21km/1,423 m V+ – Sichuan, China.➜ TV News + Asia Trip (Japan + China) 23’ Highlights on TV
• 26th May: Zegama-Aizkorri – 42km/2,736 m V+ – Zegama, Spain.➜ TV News + 23’ Highlights on TV + LIVE YOUTUBE
• 30th June: Marathon du Mont-Blanc – 42km/2,540 m V+ – Chamonix, France.➜ TV News + LIVE TV (Eurosport + TV channels in over 100 countries)
• 10th August: Sierre-Zinal – 31km/2,200 m V+ – Sierre, Switzerland.➜ TV News + 23’ Highlights on TV + LIVE YOUTUBE
• 17th August: Tatra Sky Marathon – 28km/1,770 m V+ – Kościelisko, Poland. TV News + LIVE TV (Eurosport + TV channels in over 100 countries)
• 14th September: Headlands – Women’s race – 28km/1,304 m V+ – Marin County, USA. ➜TV News + 23’ Highlights on TV
• 15th September: Headlands – Men’s race – 28km/1,304 m V+ – Marin County, USA. ➜ TV News + 23’ Highlights on TV
• 22nd September: Mammoth Trail Fest – 26km/1,250m V+ – Mammoth Lakes, USA. ➜TV News + LIVE TV (Eurosport + TV channels in over 100 countries)
• 17th to 20th October: Grand Final. Details of the race will be officially revealed at a later date ➜TV News + LIVE TV (Eurosport + TV channels in over 100 countries)