Mountain Running World Cup: Kenyan duo conquer challenging Tatra Fest

Kenya’s Paul Machoka extended his lead atop the Mountain Running World Cup over the weekend after taking another win in his brilliant season at Tatra Fest in Zakopane, Poland on Sunday, 15 July.

The 26-year-old, running for Atletica Saluzzo, led all the way from the start-line to storm to an emphatic win in the challenging terrain in a time of 2.22.16.

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The Kenyan, who was on top of the overall leaderboard prior to this race, moved to 110 points courtesy of his second race win this season, and is now 18 points ahead of his closest challenger and defending World Cup champion, Kenya’s Philemon Kiriago.

Machoka’s other win this year came in the season-opening Zmeu X Fest in Romania on Saturday, 3 May, but he has also had two second places at Vertical and Trofeo Nasego.

Following Machoka in second place at Tatra Fest was another Kenyan, Kevin Kibet, who kept close to his compatriot to finish in a time of 2.26.14.

So good was their gap upfront that the runner in third - Poland’s Marcel Fabian - cut the tape over seven minutes later, clocking 2.33.50.

Kibet, also running for Atletica Saluzzo, moved up to ninth place in the world rankings after another podium finish, and is now on 47 points.

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Tatra Fest takes place under the watchful eye of Giewont, the ‘sleeping knight’.

Towering above the town is a huge massif, famously resembling a recumbent knight in armour. This, along with a 27km course with 1700m of ascent, was capable of striking fear into the runners.

Adding to the already challenging terrain, including sections over 2000m and some technical ground, the runners also had a cloudless sky and some hot conditions to contend with.

The 2025 WMRA World Cup now heads to Broken Arrow VK, a Classic Uphill event in Olympic Valley, Lake Tahoe, USA, on Friday, 20 June.

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