The following article is published with permission from the World Mountain Running Association (WMRA) and features results from the Broken Arrow Ascent held on Friday, June 19, 2026.
After a short pause in the 2026 WMRA Mountain Running World Cup, the series returned in spectacular fashion at the Broken Arrow Ascent, delivering two of the closest contests of the season so far. The depth and quality of the fields promised high-calibre racing, but few could have anticipated just how close both races would be.
The 5.8km course packs 865m of vertical gain into a relentless climb, offering only fleeting moments of respite on short flatter and slightly downhill sections. The challenge builds towards a brutal finale, where runners tackle a technical upper section before confronting the iconic Stairway to Heavenladder. In the days leading up to the race, much attention had focused on the ladder’s recent replacement. As events unfolded, that feature would prove to be far more than a talking point – playing a decisive role in the outcome of the women’s race.
After some hot, muggy weather in the preceding few days, race day conditions were perfect – still and cooler, especially at the summit. As well as hosting a stage of the World Cup the race was also serving as the 2026 USATF Uphill Mountain Running Championship, guaranteeing the highest level of international and domestic competition.
Off and running
The mass start on the wide, grassy area meant that there was a sprint to get out front and find some space. It was Philemon Ombogo Kiriago (KEN, Run2Gether On Trail), in his third appearance in a row here, who struck out for the men, with last year’s women’s winner, Anna Gibson (USA, Brooks), taking an early lead in the women’s race. Both opened good leads, but not for long.
Kiriago found last year’s men’s winner, Christian Allen (USA, Nike), chasing him early on, with Brayan Rodríguez Flores (Mexico), and Cameron Smith (USA, Dynafit) also sitting just behind. Joyce Muthoni Njeru (KEN, NNormal) slowly started to reel Gibson in and Tabor Hemming (USA, Adidas Terrex), Miliana Almonte (USA) and Nélie Clément (FRA) led the chase group.
Where the course flattens off temporarily at around halfway Patrick Kipngeno (KEN, Run2Gether On Trail), who had deftly picked off Allen, Smith and Rodriguez Flores by this point, suddenly stamped his authority on the race, overtaking Kiriago and immediately opening a gap. In the same place in the women’s race Muthoni Njeru also passed Gibson and it looked like it was going to be another rematch for these two women, whose results stood at one win each in the last two years. Could Kipngeno and Muthoni Njeru hang on?
Kipngeno continued to stretch it out in the men’s race, and was chased hard by Kiriago and Smith, with Smith overtaking Kiriago in the final section. They finished in that order, each around 10 seconds apart, in what was an incredibly close men’s race, with a little over two minutes separating the top ten and less than a minute between the top five.
The battle for the women’s win was even closer. Muthoni Njeru hit the Stairway to Heaven in the lead, but possibly didn’t realise just how close Gibson was as they found themselves both climbing the ladder at the same time. The final scramble to the summit is virtually unrunnable but somehow Gibson managed to overtake Muthoni Njeru and win by eight seconds, beating Muthoni Njeru’s course record by two minutes. Hemming rounded out the women’s podium, 90 seconds behind.
Men’s top 10 in the Broken Arrow Ascent
1. Patrick Kipngeno (KEN) – 37.59
2. Cameron Smith (USA) – 38.10
3. Philemon Ombogo Kiriago (KEN) – 38.22
4. Christian Allen (USA) – 38.29
5. Brayan Rodriguez Flores (MEX) – 38.51
6. Casey Campbell (USA) – 38.56
7. Meikael Beaudoin-Rousseau (USA) – 39.06
8. Cesare Maestri (ITA) – 39.44
9. Kieran Nay (USA) – 39.48
10. Jeret Gillingham (USA) – 40.02
Women’s top 10 in the Broken Arrow Ascent
1. Anna Gibson (USA) – 43.15 (New course record)
2. Joyce Muthoni Njeru (KEN) – 43.23
3. Tabor Hemming (USA) – 44.55
4. Milaina Almonte (USA) – 45.59
5. Nelie Clement (FRA) – 46.21
6. Erin Moyer (USA) – 46.58
7. Jade Belzberg (CAN) – 47.45
8. Eden O’Dea (GBR) – 47.46
9. Stephanie Bruce (USA) – 47.55
10. Valentine Jepkoech Rutto (KEN) – 48.12
USATF Uphill Mountain Running Championships results
There were 62 finishers in the USATF championships division split equally between men and women. Athletes representing 16 of the 57 USATF associations were on hand to vie for medals. Anna Gibson not only won the USATF championships division, she was the overall women’s champion on the day. Cam Smith took second in the Ascent, just 11 seconds out of the overall title that went to Patrick Kipngeno, but Smith’s finish earned him the USATF Uphill Mountain Running Championship honors.
In addition to top 10 men and women overall awards, there were masters’ age group awards in five-year increments starting at age 40.
The top four USATF men and the top four USATF women earned automatic spots on the USATF Uphill Mountain Running Team which will compete October 10, at the World Cup Finale in Canada.
Top ten men
1 Cameron Smith, 30, Crested Butte, CO, 38:10
2 Christian Allen, 28, Orem, UT, 38:29
3 Casey Campbell, 34, Bend, OR, 38:56
4 Meikael Beaudoin-Rousseau, 26, Boulder, CO, 39:06
5 Kieran Nay, 27, Gunnison, CO, 39:48
6 Jeret Gillingham, 24, Flagstaff, AZ, 40:02
7 Grant Colligan, 30, Golden, CO, 40:18
8 Noah Williams, 31, Leadville, CO, 41:09
9 Jonathan Aziz, 35, Colorado Springs, CO, 41:16
10 Ares Reading, 25, Boulder, CO, 41:42
Masters’ age group medalists
40-44
1 Jason Harcum, 43, Benicia, CA, 48:07
2 Michael Olzinski, 40, Greenbrae, CA, 1:05:44
3 Jae Jeon, 44, Livermore, CA, 1:20:42
45-49
1 Gabriel Rodriguez, 48, North Bend, WA, 51:52
2 Robert Estes, 46, San Rafael, CA, 59:25
3 Ryan Yohn, 48, Irvine, CA, 1:15:23
50-54
1 Karel Baloun, 54, Lafayette, CA, 1:43:00
75-79
1 James Flanigan, 76, Davis, CA, 1:25:59
Top ten women
1 Anna Gibson, 27, Teton Village, WY, 43:15
2 Erin Moyer, 26, Washoe Valley, NV, 46:58
3 Stephanie Bruce, 42, Flagstaff, AZ, 47:55
4 Kendall Kramer, 23, Anchorage, AK, 48:14
5 Sydney Petersen, 26, Crested Butte, CO, 48:22
6 Jenna Gigliotti, 33, Amherst, MA, 48:53
7 Rena Schwartz, 26, Boulder, CO, 49:26
8 Hali Hafeman, 34, Golden, CO, 49:47
9 Sam Lewis, 31 Boulder, CO, 49:57
10 Chloe Painter, 25, Flagstaff, AZ, 50:31
Masters’ age group medalists
40-44
1 Stephanie Bruce, 42, Flagstaff, AZ, 47:55
2 Rachael Cuellar, 44, Albuquerque, NM, 1:01:07
3 Nicole Lemanski, 44, Latham, NY, 1:31:49
55-59
1 Christine Lundy, 55, Mill Valley, CA, 53:20
Complete race results can be found here.
Next up on the WMRA World Cup Calendar
The 23k Broken Arrow Skyrace, our next stage of the World Cup, starts at 8am for the women and 8:20am for the men on Sunday, June 21. Follow the action on the WMRA social media channels.
