World Mountain Running star Kiriago says he was inspired by Tokyo team

Philemon Kiriago crosses the finish line of the men's Classic 14km at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Spain on Sunday September 28, 2025. [Courtesy]

The country’s sole gold medallist at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships, which concluded in Spain on Sunday, has said he was inspired by Team Kenya’s success at the World Championships in Tokyo.

Philemon Kirago, who powered to the Classic Up and Down title at the Mountain Running show, said the motivation from the Tokyo squad, which bagged seven gold medals, two silver and two bronze in their heroic exploits, was alive in Spain.

The Mountain Running team brought home five individual medals and three team titles from the showdown that was staged in Spain’s picturesque Canfranc.

Kenya managed to win the team titles in men’s uphill, women’s classic and men’s classic.

From the five medals, Kiriago bagged an individual title in the individual Classic (14.3km) Up and Down contest, the last race of the 2025 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships.

Ruth Gitonga bagged silver in the women’s Classic while Paul Machoka secured bronze in the men’s category.

Richard Omaya and Patrick Kipngeno bagged silver and bronze, respectively, in the individual uphill on September 25. The men’s Classic was a fast race, which kicked off with huge expectations and eventually Kiriago triumphed.

“I am so happy that I won a gold medal for Kenya. Last week I was motivated by the performance in Tokyo. I saw Beatrice Chebet, Faith Kipyegon and other athletes winning gold medals at the World Championships,” said Kiriago. The Classic champion went on to say: “I wanted to win gold so that I get the reception that athletes get when they make the country proud.”

Kiriago went neck-and-neck with Uganda’s Martin Kiprotich throughout the race and finally overpowered the neighbour on the race’s final downhill.

He won his maiden World Mountain and Trail Run gold medal in 62:30 while Kiprotich, who led most of the race, was second in 63:14.

The women’s classic went first with 50 different countries racing, and it was a very blistering start for Kenya’s Gloria Chebet.

Chebet was initially in the company of three Ugandan teammates as the race turned to forest paths four minutes into the race, before the trio of Saibi Chebet, Rispa Cherop, and Kerine Cherop dropped the Kenyan star for the early lead.

The leading pack could not stick for long as Nina Engelhard of Germany surged to the front after about nine minutes of racing.

Engelhard crossed the 3.8km point in 21:17 with a big 21-second lead.

Finally, the German took the gold medal while Rispa Cherop of Uganda won silver as Kenya’s Ruth Gitonga settled for the bronze.

Engelhard won in 71:00, almost two minutes faster than any other woman.

Kenya placed three women inside the top eight to win team gold.

The 14.3 kilometers course had a 767m (2,516 feet) elevation gain on a two-loop route.

Analysts say the course was less punishing and included longer sections on paved and gravel roads.

On top of the medals and team titles, athletics stars left Spain smiling as a number of them pocketed part of the Ksh3.6 million prize purse, with Sh753,000 going to the gold medallists and cash payouts through to fifth place.

Kenya sent a team of 18 athletes to the global mountain run show. The squad competed in an uphill 6k, a classic 14km, and a short trail 45km.