Joyce Njeru says Sierre-Zinal and more GTWS wins would be the “next level”

Joyce Njeru is going all out for victory at Sierre-Zinal this weekend – and the Golden Trail World Series.

The Kenyan star has had a great first half of the season and has realistic ambitions of winning both the GTWS and the Mountain Running World Cup.

She was runner-up to Sophia Laukli at Sierre-Zinal 12 months ago and the top five are all back again, though it was announced on Wednesday that four-time winner Maude Mathys misses out through injury.

Out of her comfort zone

Njeru’s first GTWS victory came in China earlier this year, following a fourth place the week before in Japan. And, perhaps surprisingly for an athlete of her calibre, they provided a real confidence boost.

She explained to GTWS’ Mickaël Mussard: “Initially, I was afraid to compete in the Golden Trail World Series. I had heard from many athletes that it was tough and not suited for me. But I decided to go for it, and the results I got in Asia immediately boosted my confidence!

“It’s an excellent start for me in the Series, and it gives me a lot of confidence and motivation.”

She said she was “disappointed” with her fourth at the Kobe Trail having led early on, explaining: “I was well-prepared and had different expectations. But it’s still a good result, and most importantly, I managed to bounce back in China, even though I started to doubt myself after the race in Japan. I knew I could win there, but I wasn’t so sure anymore.”

‘Favourite race’

So what about Sierre-Zinal on Saturday: “It’s a race I love, certainly my favourite, and I’m really happy to be back.

“I feel strong and mentally ready, and it’s definitely a goal I want to achieve – to win Sierre-Zinal. I know I can do it if everything goes well.

“I also have people close to me who tell me I can do it, that they believe in me, and that gives me the energy to go for the win. In any case, I’ll do my best.”

She also feels that the strength in depth in a stacked women’s field could lead to Mathys’ course record time from 2021 coming under threat: “It’s a record that will be hard to beat, but it’s not impossible.

“If I manage to do it, I’ll be very happy. I’ll try to push as much as possible if I see that I’m close.

But I think for it to be possible, there will need to be a fierce battle between the women, pushing each other to our limits.

“I’m not the best on the climbs, even though I’ve improved. So, the goal will be to try to stay in contact with the other women on the climb while listening to my sensations. I want to be able to attack in the second part of the race. The descent isn’t a problem for me; my main concern will really be the first climb.”

And in terms of who she sees as her main rival, the response was: “I’ve never raced against Judith [Wyder], so I don’t really know her strengths and weaknesses, but I think she will be a serious competitor. There’s also Madalina [Florea], and I know she’s very strong on the climbs. As for Sophia [Laukli], we’re at about the same level, so it will depend on her form. I also wish Maude [Mathys] were here, but she’s injured… She’s a real inspiration to me; she climbs very well, and I would have loved to compete against her in this race.”

Finding new challenges

Asked if she’s changed anything in preparation, she adds: “Actually, I’ve changed everything, but more broadly for the Golden Trail Series in general.

“This year, even though I want to defend my title in the Mountain Running World Cup, I’ve made the Golden Trail World Series a real goal. Next year, I even want to focus on it entirely. So, I’ve changed my training method, doing harder and longer sessions. I’ve also added strength training.

“I need to challenge myself, to find new challenges, and for me, the Golden Trail Series is the next step, the next level to reach. It really motivates me to compete against the best runners in the world. As an African runner, I also want to be an inspiration by shining in the Golden Trail Series. I want to show other Africans that we can excel on the international stage against the best.”