GTWS race eight - Mammoth 26K results: California doubles for Elazzaoui and Njeru | Trail Running News

Just as they had at the Headlands 27K the week before, Elhousine Elazzaoui (MAR) and Joyce Njeru (KEN) took the wins at the Mammoth 26K on Sunday.

Elazzaoui had two seconds to spare seven days previously, this time it was one as he held off Patrick Kipngeno in a thrilling sprint finish with last week’s runner-up Philemon Kiriago (KEN) in third.

Njeru had told us before she didn’t want a sprint finish and she took the reins from the outset to create a significant gap on the climb; a gap that subsequently never reduced.

Madalina Florea (ROM) was second, nearly three minutes back, with Anna Gibson (USA) a distant third.

Here’s what they said afterwards…

Men’s race

“I tried several times today”, confided Elazzaoui at the finish line. “Today, I wanted to try a new strategy, so I attacked several times. But Patrick was very strong, and he caught up with me each time. I tried again in the downhill, but he caught up with me again. But I won in the end, so I’m really happy.”

Kipngeno lost out to the Moroccan in the home straight and said: “When I set off, I decided I was going to finish on the podium, but at kilometre seven I realised I could push in the climb and take the lead. I tried dropping Elhousine and leading to the finish, but I didn’t win. Nevertheless, I’m very happy with this second place.”

Although he came in third, Kiriago revealed a well-oiled strategy between him and his teammate. “I had to set a blistering pace on the flat to exhaust the others so that Patrick could push in the climb. That was today’s plan, even if I had to stand aside afterwards. It almost worked, but we’ll have to push even harder in the final if we want to win!”

Women’s race

Njeru dominated from the beginning but revealed afterwards: “At the start of the race, I wasn’t feeling that great, especially due to the altitude. But from the two-kilometre mark I started slowly feeling better and then I could attack on the climb and keep the lead to the finish. I’m thrilled with this victory, and I can’t wait for the final.”

joyce njeru wins mammoth 26k 2024 photo credit golden trail race series — Joyce Njeru wins the Mammoth 26k [Photo credit: Golden Trail World Series]

For the third time this season, Florea took second place, as she did at Headlands and the Marathon du Mont-Blanc. “To be honest, considering how I felt before the start, I’m very pleased with this second place! But I must admit I’m getting a bit fed up with coming in second or third! Let’s see if I can change that in the final!”

Gibson rounded off the podium and said. “I tried to hold back in the first few kilometres. I knew that the altitude would take its toll on some of the girls, and I didn’t want to be one of them. So, I found my pace and started to push a little more once we arrived on the ridge. I managed to catch up to Rachel [Drake] and it was really in the final kilometres that I managed to break away from her to get a podium finish.”

As the season draws to a close, all the athletes will now focus on the Grand Final, which will be held from 17th to 20th October in Ascona-Locarno in Switzerland.