Kenya’s mountain runners finished second and third in both the men’s and women’s overall standings at the Golden Trail World Series season finale in South Korea.

Patrick Kipng’eno and Philemon Ombogo Kiriago took second and third places in the men’s category, while Caroline Kimutai and Ruth Gitonga finished second and third, respectively, in the women’s standings.

Kipng’eno accumulated 1,128 points to finish runner-up in the men’s standings, while Kiriago, who entered the Muju Trail Grand Finale leading the rankings, dropped to third with 1,075 points.

Morocco’s Elhousine Elazzaoui claimed an unprecedented third consecutive title after winning the Muju Trail Grand Finale, collecting 306 points to surge from third to first in the overall standings.

Elazzaoui won the finale ahead of Kipng’eno, with Timothy Kibet completing the podium. Kiriago, the World Mountain Running Association (WMRA) World Cup champion, endured a difficult race to finish 11th.

Other Kenyans in the men’s overall top 10 were Michael Saoli in fourth, Kibet fifth, Nashon Kiplimo sixth and Ezekiel Ruto seventh.

Speaking on the phone, Kiriago, a World Trail and Mountain Running Championships classic up-and-down gold medallist, said the challenging conditions forced him to slow down to avoid injury.

“It was a tough race. This was one of the toughest mountain running courses in the world,” he said.

“It rained heavily, and the course was rocky, especially downhill where I’m best in. To avoid injury, I had to slow down. However, I’m proud and happy of my performance this season.”

In the women’s category, Kimutai of Salomon Running finished second overall with 1,016 points, while Gitonga of Run2Gether on Trail took third with 982 points.

Romania’s Madalina Florea retained the women’s overall title for a second consecutive year, topping the standings with 1,164 points.

At the Muju finale, Gitonga finished seventh, one place ahead of Kimutai, who was eighth. The two were the only Kenyan women to finish in the overall top 10.

The GTWS overall standings are determined by each athlete’s four best results during the regular season and their performance in the Grand Finale.