Reigning World Mountaining Running champion Patrick Kipngeno won gold for Team Kenya on the first day of World Mountain and Trail Running Championships.
Today, Kipng’eno won gold in the 7.3km vertical race in 40:18 to win gold on Day One of the championship being held in Innsbruck-Stubai Austria.
He beat Uganda’s Levi Kiprotich (41:51) to silver while Kenya’s Josephat Kiprotich (42:04) completed the podium finish.
Kenya’s other representatives—last year’s silver medalist Philemon Kiriago (42:54) and Hillary Maiyo —settled for the 7th and 12 positions respectively.
They will be in action again on Saturday when they take part in the Mountain Classic event, featuring looped 15.5km races for senior men and women.
In the women’s category, Kenya’s Philaries Kisang (48:51) won silver behind Austria’s Andrew Mayr who won the title in 48:14 and USA’s Grayson Murphy claimed bronze in 49:22. Valentine Ruto (49:59) and Joyce Muthoni (52:09) were 5th and 10th respectively.