Announcement from the World Mountain Running Association (WMRA). Written by Kirsty Reade.
Innsbruck, 10th June 2023, the Classic Mountain Running Race brings down the curtain on the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Innsbruck, Austria. On the final day of racing we saw nail-biting competitions in which the two lap course provided the drama, with top positions changing constantly.
Liam Meirow. Photo: Richard Bolt.
The course
On a hot day, with the temperature at 22 degrees Celsius in the city centre, the classic mountain race started and finished in Innsbruck town and it was a fast and furious course, which consisted of two laps of a loop, totaling 15km with 751m ascent. The route took the runners across the Inn on the Europaratsallee and to the trails on the Nordkette, climbing steeply up to Gramartboden, then heading through the forest to top out at 937m. There then followed a long descent on steep, tree root-covered trails, then hard trail back to the city, heading via the famous Höttinger Gasse to the old town. The final flat section on road at the end gave a good opportunity for exciting sprint finishes.
Rachel Tomajczyk. Photo: Richard Bolt.
The men’s race
Patrick Kipngeno (KEN), the winner of this year’s uphill race was back to see if he could do the double. But it was going to be a big ask for him, given the strength and depth of the field assembled.
From the start it was Isaac Mande Kibet (UGA) who took it out. Initially he was followed by Liam Meirow (USA) and it all remained very close together, with Ombago Kiriago Philemon (KEN) and Filimon Abraham (GER) at the front of the pack. As they started the uphill section through the woods it was narrow singletrack which offered few opportunities to overtake, but once they started the first of the two long downhills back towards the city it all started to shake out in a big way.
At the 5k point it was Abraham who popped out into town first, very closely followed by Philemon and Cherop. As they ran into town it looked very much like a fast road race (including the runners’ shoes, which were mostly ‘supershoes’) and Cherop pulled away, almost as if he was going to finish at the end of this first lap. Perhaps confused, he then dropped back quickly as the second lap began.
In what was to be a theme of the day the second lap was almost a different race to the first lap. The two lap format, combined with the different skillsets of uphill and downhill runners meant that no runner could take anything for granted. The sands were constantly shifting.
Abraham and Philemon then hit the front again as they headed uphill at an incredible pace, with the lead changing hands several times. Philemon pulled away once they hit the traverse at the top of the climb, but Abraham and Leonard Chemutai (UGA) were still chasing hard, followed by a pack of runners slightly behind, which included Kipngeno and Cesare Maestri (ITA).
Philemon had a small lead over Chemutai as they began the final long downhill towards the town, and Abraham was still in contention. There was then a small gap back to Kipngeno and Cherop. As they approached the final few kilometres Chemutai made his move and tried to open up a gap on the final section of downhill. Would this be the decisive move?
Chemutai did manage to hold onto the small gap and take the victory to become World Champion in 56.14. Philemon maintained second place in 56.22 and Abraham took the bronze in 56.27.
The second lap served to shake up the minor places so much that the team competition became an exciting race in itself. While Kenya were clear winners of team gold it was strong second laps from Italian and in particular Spanish runners that won the team silver and bronze.
Casey Campbell. Photo: Richard Bolt.
Men’s top 5
Leonard Chemutai (UGA) 56.14
Ombogo Kiriago Philemon (KEN) 56.22
Filimon Abraham (GER) 56.27
Eliud Cherop (UGA) 57.26
Patrick Kipngeno (KEN) 57.27
Men’s team competition
Kenya (15 points)
Italy (30 points)
Spain (43 points)
Grayson Murphy. Photo: Richard Bolt.
The women’s race
The heat had risen even more for the women’s race, but Grayson Murphy (USA) led the race out, looking extremely cool and composed. A small pack quickly formed behind her on the first uphill, consisting of Monica Madalina Florea (ROU), Valentine Jepkoech Rutto (KEN) and Joyce Muthoni (KEN). Murphy seemed to be calmly opening a small gap as they headed up through the tree-lined singletrack. Given her 5km pace on the flat, this must have been a worry for those following her.
Once they made the first transition from the uphill to the down on the first lap, Murphy still had a small gap but it was Tove Alexandersson (SWE), the multiple orienteering world champion, who was making up the ground on the downhill and she was now in second. Rutto, Philaries Jeruto Kisang (KEN) and Muthoni led the chase, with Annet Chemengich Chelangat (UGA) and Florea close behind them.
Alexandersson then made a move on the final bit of downhill as they came down towards the approach to the town. Murphy kept in touch with her but the gap opened to 9 seconds as they hit the road. At this point Muthoni was 18 seconds behind Murphy in third. The second lap was already looking like it was going to be very interesting. Just as in the men’s race lap two almost served as a reset, saying ‘ok, let’s go again’. And just as in the men’s race there were lots of changes in positions, setting up an exciting team competition.
Unexpectedly Alexandersson continued to pull away on the road section through town, but the minute the road started to kick up again Murphy quickly caught and passed her. Murphy now needed to open up a big gap, now that she had seen what a danger Alexandersson is on the downhill. Murphy kept her metronomic pace on the uphill, still looking very calm.
Once Murphy hit the short road section towards the top of the uphill she immediately pushed the pace. At this point Alexandersson was 25 seconds behind, with Chelangat 20 seconds behind her. On the first lap this hadn’t proven a barrier for Alexandersson. Would she come back to Murphy on the downhill again? Muthoni and Rutto were also still in contention. Once they started the final, decisive, long downhill we would have a very exciting finish on our hands.
At the 10.5km point Murphy held a lead of 50 seconds over Alexandersson, who herself was neck and neck with Chelangat. The race now seemed to be for silver and bronze. Eventually Murphy didn’t let up at all and maintained her lead to become World Champion in 1.04.29. Alexandersson took the silver in 1.05.26 and it was in fact Muthoni who took the bronze in 1.06.40 after it seemed that Chelangat injured herself on the downhill, or was suffering, as were many others, in the heat.
Just as in the men’s race, the team competition had a clear winner in Kenya, but it came down to the minor positions for silver (Great Britain) and bronze (France), proving how important it is for runners to fight for every place.
U.S. Team wins bronze in the overall country competition. Photo: Nancy Hobbs.
Women’s top 5
Grayson Murphy (USA) 1.04.29
Tove Alexandersson (SWE) 1.05.26
Joyce Muthoni (KEN) 1.06.40
Valentine Jepkoech Rutto (KEN) 1.06.56
Domenika Mayer (GER) 1.07.09
Women’s team competition
Kenya (14 points)
Great Britain (43 points)
France (46 points)
Grayson Murphy. Photo: Richard Bolt.
The women’s race brought the curtain down on an unforgettable World Championships. The heat clearly played its part today, with several athletes needing medical attention at the finish line, but the course delivered four incredibly exciting races, with the top positions changing depending on where the runners were on the route.
Full results can be found at: World Mountain and Trail Running Championships Innsbruck-Stubai 2023, 07/06/2023-10/06/2023 : : my.race|result (raceresult.com)
Learn more about the US Mountain and Trail Running Team.
Samantha Wood. Photo: Richard Bolt.
