Scout Adkin wins the Lagunc KM Verticale (© Damiano Benedetto / corsainmontagna.it)
Scout Adkin and Andrea Elia were victorious at the Lagunc KM Verticale, this season’s penultimate Valsir Mountain Running World Cup race, in Chiavenna, Italy, on Saturday (12).
The Lagunc KM Verticale takes a time trial format, and there were some fast times on a drizzly and cool day.
With the top three women in the World Cup rankings running, and just two points separating second and third, athletes were ready for an important weekend of racing.
It was Swiss runner Paola Stampanoni who threw down the gauntlet early on as she clocked 39:13. It wasn’t until Britain’s Adkin – second in the World Cup rankings – appeared over the brow of the final climb that Stampanoni’s mark was beaten as Adkin finished in 37:57.
Kenya’s Philaries Jeruto Kisang, who started the race one place behind Adkin in the rankings, was second in 38:35 and her compatriot Joyce Muthoni Njeru, the World Cup leader, finished fifth in 39:55. Stampanoni held on for third place, Finland’s Susanna Saapunki was fourth in 39:44 and Australian Lara Hamilton took sixth.
In the World Cup rankings, Adkin has closed the gap on Muthoni Njeru, with 299 points against 309. That makes tomorrow’s closing race incredibly exciting. Jeruto Kisang is in third on 289 and Saapunki moved up to fourth on 188.
It is equally nail-biting in the men’s World Cup rankings and the top six men were all taking part on Saturday.
Ahead of the race, Kenya’s Patrick Kipngeno led with 235 points, with his compatriots Patrick Omobogo Kiriago just eight points behind him and Josphat Kiprotich 11 points behind him. Next were Michael Selelo Saoli, Richard Omaya Atuya and Paul Machoka.
Unlike in the women’s competition, the strongest marks came from the latter runners. Omaya Atuya and Machoka finished strongly in 32:28 and 32:16 respectively, followed by Kipngeno in 31:50, and for a short time it looked like Kipngeno might have it. However, it was Italy’s Elia who powered through the line to set the fastest mark of 31:08. Only Henri Aymonod could beat him but he fell just seven seconds short of Elia’s time and placed second. Kipngeno was third and Tiziano Moia had a strong run for fourth, with Machoka eventually fifth.
The World Cup ranking positions remain unchanged in the top six for the men. Kipngeno now has a lead of 32 points over Kiriago (274 against 242), with Kiprotich on 216. Saoli now has 191, Atuya 179 and Machoka 177.
On Sunday the Val Bregaglia Trail starts at 9:30am local time.
Kirsty Reade (WMRA) for World Athletics
