Mountain Run: Girls 8-12 years compete during the Tinderet Barng’etuny Mountain Run 4th Edition 1km race held in Tinderet, Nandi County on January 18, 2025.
The Mountain Train and Running series continues to gain momentum, as evidenced by the Tindiret Barngetuny Mountain Run National Championships held in Nandi County on Saturday.
A record-breaking 2,200 athletes participated, tackling a notoriously harsh and punishing terrain that tested their resilience and endurance in the fourth edition of the series.
The senior category stood out with a gruelling 14km course featuring steep uphill climbs and sharp downhill descents. Despite the challenging nature of the race, the athletes demonstrated exceptional grit, highlighting the competitive spirit synonymous with Kenya’s athletic culture.
Athletics Kenya is using local championships to prepare for the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships, scheduled for September 25-28 in Canfranc-Pirine, Spain.
This global event will include various categories such as uphill mountain running, classic up-and-down mountain running, short and long trails, and U-20 events.
At the 2023 edition in Innsbruck-Stubaitalbahn, Austria, Kenya bagged nine medals—5 gold, 2 silver, and 2 bronze—finishing second overall behind France, which won 11 medals. Patrick Kipngeno claimed gold in the uphill mountain race, outpacing Uganda’s Levi Kiprotich, while Josphat Kiprotich secured bronze.
Kenya also clinched gold in the team uphill race, with Patrick Kipngeno, Josphat Kiprotich, and Philemon Kiriano scoring 11 points to outclass Uganda (21 points) and Switzerland (45 points). In the team up-and-downhill race, the trio won gold with 15 points, ahead of Italy (30 points) and Spain (43 points).
The women’s category saw Kenya dominate as well. The team uphill race, led by Philaries Jeruto Kisang, Valentine Jepkoech Rutto, and Joyce Muthoni, garnered 17 points, outshining Germany (33 points) and the UK (51 points). Kenya’s women also triumphed in the team up-and-downhill race, scoring 14 points ahead of the UK (43 points) and France (46 points).
Athletics Kenya President Jack Tuwei emphasised the importance of preparation, stating, “Athletes need more time to prepare, and the team has to be named early enough for focused training.
The Tindiret Barngetuny Run kick-starts our season, helping us identify talent for the international stage. We have selected the top two athletes in each category and will look at world rankings before naming the provisional team.”
Kenyan athletes have dominated the global mountain running scene, with three currently leading the world rankings. Patrick Kipngeno—renowned for his remarkable speed and stamina on challenging terrains—holds the top position. Though he missed the recent event to cheer on his wife, Janeth Chepng’etich, who won the senior women’s race, he expressed optimism for the upcoming season.
“I recently started training, and my first race will be in March or April. I’ll compete in a few races before focusing on the championships, as I’m the defending champion,” he said.
The event drew attention from top government officials, including Sports Principal Secretary Peter Tum, who underscored the need to prioritize athlete development.
“We aim to support talented athletes and provide platforms for showcasing their abilities. Monetizing talents through events like the mountain run ensures sustainable growth,” Tum stated.
Julius Melly, Member of Parliament for Tindiret Constituency, highlighted his vision of leveraging local resources to nurture talent.
“The late Isaiah Kiplagat inspired me to support athletes using Nandi County’s hills. The race is now part of the national series, opening avenues for talent realization and community support,” said Melly.
Eric Brangetuny, who donated land for the course, expressed pride in fulfilling his late father Ezekiel Barngetuny’s dream of supporting local athletes.
The Kenya Tourism Board has joined the initiative, with CEO June Chepkemei emphasizing its commitment to promoting Kenya’s sporting prowess and natural beauty.
“We aim to position Kenya as the home of champions while showcasing our country’s rich heritage through the mountain run series,” said Chepkemei.
The next Magical Kenya Trail Series events are scheduled for May 1 in Nyamira, June 8 at Mt. Kenya, August 24 in Aberdares, November 16 in Longonot, and December 7 in Mt. Elgon.
