MUTHONI NJERU AND KIPNGENO DO THE DOUBLE AT BROKEN ARROW

After a hugely exciting opener to this year’s Valsir Mountain Running World Cup in the Broken Arrow VK on Friday, today it was the turn of the 23k Broken Arrow Skyrace, our first gold label long race of the competition. Taking place in the famous ski resort of Palisades Tahoe, this race takes in many of the highlights of the area, including KT-22 and the iconic Washeshu Peak.  

After last year’s snow-affected race, where the course was amended to be two laps, this year Palisades Tahoe couldn’t have delivered better weather. Warm conditions, blue skies and a mostly snow-free course awaited the runners.

Last year’s winner’s, Allie McLaughlin (HOKA) and Eli Hemming (Adidas Terrex) were back to defend their titles and both of the winners of Friday’s VK, Joyce Muthoni Njeru (Atletico Saluzzo) and Patrick Kipngeno (Run2gether) were also toeing the line again today. Could we see one of them do the double here?

THE WOMEN’S RACE

Just as she did in Friday‘s VK race, Muthoni Njeru, led the race out from the front. She reached the first timing point – Snow King, 4.6 miles in – in 40.23, and we had to wait almost two minutes for our second woman, Tabor Hemming (Adidas Terrex). McLaughlin was another minute back, closely followed by Jade Belzberg (Topo) and Daniella Moreno (Adidas Terrex).

By the next timing point at 7.8 miles little had changed at the front of the women’s race. Muthoni Njeru had now stretched her lead over Hemming out to just under three minutes, and Hemming maintained her buffer of around a minute over McLaughlin. Belzberg was just 30 seconds back and Moreno, while maintaining fifth place, had lost contact with Belzberg a little.

It was no surprise to see Muthoni Njeru arrive at High Camp (10.5 miles) with her lead intact. She had increased it slightly to two and a half minutes, but Hemming remained in contention and the race was very much on for third place too. Belzberg had overtaken McLaughlin in this section and arrived at the timing point 38 seconds ahead of her. Moreno was three minutes behind by this point, so it looked very much as if the second two podium spots would come from Hemming, Belzberg and McLaughlin, so it was all still to fight for.  

The final downhill section was an exciting one for the women. Muthoni Njeru did hang on and win in 2.11.52, but in the end it was close and it was Belzberg who stormed through from third to overtake Hemming and take second in 2.12.29. Hemming held third and finished in 2.13.31, with last year’s winner McLaughlin fourth in 2.14.53. Moreno was fifth in 2.17.04. Rachel Tomajczyk (Merrell) took sixth, Sydney Petersen seventh, Abby Lock eighth, Sarah Carter (The Trail Team) ninth and Karley Rempel (The Trail Team) tenth.

THE MEN’S RACE

Just as the women’s VK winner, Muthoni Njeru, struck out early in the Skyrace, so did the men’s VK winner, Kipngeno. He hit the first timing point in 32.49, with a minute’s lead over last year’s men’s winner, Eli Hemming. Philemon Ombogo Kiriago (Run2gether) was 30 seconds behind him in third, with Taylor Stack and Meikael Beaudoin-Rousseau (Brooks), who finished third in Friday’s VK, just behind. Behind them were Hawk Call, Christian Allen (Nike Trail), Remi Leroux (Merrell) and Darren Thomas (Salomon).

At the next timing point Kipngeno had increased his lead over Hemming to just under two minutes. Ombogo Kiriago was 90 seconds behind him , closely followed by Stack and Beaudoin-Rousseau. There wasn’t a lot of change in the men’s top 10 , but notably Andrew Douglas (HOKA), a previous World Cup winner had moved up to 11th.

Kipngeno‘s two minute lead remained consistent at High Camp, the 10.5 mile point. It was still looking likely that he could do the double here, but it wasn’t out of the question that Hemming could reel him in. The battle for third was looking interesting, with Ombago Kiriago, Stack and Beadudoin-Rousseau still in contention. Again, the men’s top 10 was mostly the same as it had been throughout at this point, but Douglas had now moved into ninth.  

Hemming chased Kipngeno hard in the last downhill section and he did claw back a little time, but it was Kipngeno who took the win in 1.45.37, to add to his VK win on Friday. Hemming took second in 1.47.00 and Ombogo Kiriago took third in 1.50.23, completing the men’s podium. Stack was fourth in 1.51.12 and Beaudoin-Rousseau fifth in 1.52.16. Call remained in sixth and Douglas battled through to finish seventh. Leroux, Sam Hendry (Salomon) and Cade Michael (The Trail Team) rounded out the top ten.

Full results can be found here: Broken Arrow Skyrace, 06/21/2024-06/23/2024 : : my.race|result (raceresult.com)