Spanish athlete Sara Alonso (Asics) and Patrick Kipngeno (Kenya – Run2gether On Trail) came out on top in their respective Golden Trail World Series races in Kobe, Japan, on Saturday.
The 2025 GTWS calendar kicked off in spectacular style with thrilling battles on the rugged trails around Mount Maya.
From the surroundings of the Mayasan Kikuseidai lookout point, the heart of the race, the runners tackled a course packed with endless stairs, stone-paved trails, and steep descents through the forests of Mount Maya.
And as well the technical course that took no prisoners, the opening event was marked by intense heat and high humidity – here’s how it all played out…
Women’s race – Alonso comes out on top
A blazing downhill start that set the tone early as Joyce Muthoni Njeru (Kenya – Nnormal) led the charge, chased by Madalina Florea (Romania – Scott), Alonso, Malen Osa (Spain – Salomon), and Japan’s own Takako Takamura.
But by the first aid station, Alonso had moved to the front – and never looked back.
As the humidity took its toll and the race progressed through its second and third loops, Alonso launched what proved a decisive attack.
Florea held firm in second, Osa clawed back some ground, and Takamura remained steady but last year’s overall champion Njeru struggled after a mid-race mishap where she apparently took a wrong turn and slipped out of the top five.
Alonso clinched a hard-fought win in 2:53:57, ahead of Florea (2:59:46) and Osa (3:02:10). Takamura came in fourth (3:02:55), followed by the UK’s Sara Willhoit (Scarpa) in fifth with 3:17:15.
Afterwards Alonso said: “I trained really hard this winter and I believed I could win this one. I think Joyce took a wrong turn during the race, which I feel bad about. But once I realised I was leading, I just had to stay focused. I’m really, really happy to start the season with a win.”
Men’s race – Repeat win for Kipngeno
It was close early on in the men’s race as Joey Hadorn (Switzerland – Salomon) took a narrow lead.
He was followed closely by Sylvain Cachard (France – Hoka), Philemon Kiriago (Kenya – Run2gether On Trail), Kipngeno and Daniel Pattis (Italy – Brooks).
By loop two, last year’s winner Kipngeno had surged to the front with a powerful uphill move, while Hadorn and Kiriago kept the pressure on.
As the heat intensified and the field stretched out, Bogdan Damian (Romania – Datacor) made a late push, Cachard dropped out due to the scorching conditions, and young local Ryunosuke Omi (Japan – Salomon) charged into contention.
But Kipngeno defended his Kobe title in style, clocking 2:29:46. Kiriago followed in 2:31:53, with Damian just three seconds behind in 2:31:56. Hadorn (2:33:45) and Omi (2:35:49) rounded out a stacked top five.
And after his repeat win, Kipngeno said: “First of all, I thank God for allowing me to win this race again. I want to congratulate my fellow competitors and friends – they pushed me all the way to the end. I’m proud of my performance out there.”
2025 GTWS race one – Kobe Trail, Saturday April 19, 21km
WOMEN
- Sara Alonso (Spain – Asics) – 2:53:57
- Madalina Florea (Romania – Scott) – 2:59:46
- Malen Osa (Spain – Salomon) – 3:02:10
- Takako Takamura (Japan) – 3:02:55
- Sara Willhoit (United Kingdom – Scarpa) – 3:17:15
- Joyce Muthoni Njeru (Kenya – Nnormal) – 3:21:19
- Honoka Akiyama (Japan – Merrell) – 3:21:55
- Yoshimi Tanaka (Japan) – 3:24:28
- Betty Bergstrand (Sweden – Salomon) – 3:26:19
- Courtney Coppinger (USA – Brooks) – 3:27:57
MEN
- Patrick Kipngeno (Kenya – Run2gether On Trail) – 2:29:46
- Philemon Kiriago (Kenya – Run2gether On Trail) – 2:31:53
- Bogdan Damian (Romania – Datacor) – 2:31:56
- Joey Hadorn (Switzerland – Salomon) – 2:33:45
- Ryunosuke Omi (Japan – Salomon) – 2:35:49
- Daniel Pattis (Italy – Brooks) – 2:37:21
- Theo Bourgeois (France – Brooks) – 2:39:38
- Koken Ogasawara (Japan) – 2:39:48
- Ruy Ueda (Japan – Ueda Team) – 2:46:45
- Juho Ylinen (Finland – Hoka) – 2:49:11
