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Golden Trail Series – Grand Final in Ascona – Locarno, Switzerland

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Golden Trail Series – Grand Final in Ascona – Locarno, Switzerland
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Golden Trail Series – Grand Final in Ascona – Locarno, Switzerland

1 - PROLOGUE - WMN
Golden Trail Series – Grand Final:
Joyce Njeru Wins the Women’s Prologue!
17TH to 20TH OCTOBER 2024, 7KM, 400M V+
Ascona - Locarno, Switzerland

Joyce Njeru wins the Golden Trail Series women’s prologue in the Grand Final.
Sarah Carter is first in the GTNS



Joyce Njeru on top!
She was just simply on a whole other planet today! On a super-technical trail and in Dantesque weather conditions, Joyce Njeru (KEN–Atletica Saluzzo) showed that she had what it took to dominate this Golden Trail Series Grand Final prologue. The Kenyan won by 30 seconds in front of the American Lauren Gregory (USA–Nike Trail) and more than 40 seconds in front of Madalina Florea (ROM–Salomon).

"I didn't expect to take the lead in this prologue. I had to start really fast and push the whole way. I'm really pleased to have managed to challenge myself like that. Now, I’ll need to rest up to finish the job on Saturday on the main race."

Sarah Carter, first in the GTNS, Miriam Morales leading the U23s
In addition to the Elite rankings, this final will also see all the GTNS (National Series) runners go head-to-head. By finishing 16th overall, the American Sarah Carter (GTNS USA/CAN) took first place in the GTNS. But with a 3-second lead over her closest rival, she will have her work cut out for her on Saturday to keep hold of this first place. In the U23 category, Mexican Miriam Morales Hernandez (GTNS Mexico) won with a 16- second lead.


Results – Women’s Prologue Overall
1 – JOYCE NJERU (KENYA – ATLETICA SALUZZO): 0:31:37 (+100 pts)
2 – LAUREN GREGORY (USA – NIKE TRAIL): 0:32:07 (+94 pts)
3 – MADALINA FLOREA (ROM – SALOMON): 0:32:14 (+88 pts)
4 – SOPHIA LAUKLI (USA – SALOMON): 0:32:18 (+83 pts)
5 – JUDITH WYDER (CHE – HOKA / RED BULL): 0:32:38 (+78 pts)
6 – SARA ALONSO (ESP – ASICS): 0:33:10 (+75 pts)
7 – ALLIE OSTRANDER (USA – NNORMAL): 0:33:36 (+72 pts)
8 – ANNA GIBSON (USA – BROOKS): 0:34:29 (+70 pts)
9 – NAOMI LANG (UK – SALOMON): 0:34:33 (+68 pts)
10 – EEF VAN DONGEN (NLD – VJ): 0:34:41 (+67 pts)

GTNS – OVERALL
1 – SARAH CARTER (USA – GTNS USA/CAN): 0:35:05
2 – JAEL MORALES OSEGUERA (MEX – GTNS MEXICO): 0:35:08
3 – WERONIKA MATUSZCZAK (POL – GTNS CZE/SVK/POL): 0:35:10
4 – SILVIA SCHWAIGER (AUS – GTNS DACH): 0:35:48
5 – MIRIAM MORALES HERNANDEZ (MEX – GTNS MEXICO): 0:36:06

GTNS – U23
1 – MIRIAM MORALES HERNANDEZ (MEX – GTNS MEXICO): 0:36:06
2 – ANDIE CORNISH (USA – GTNS USA/CAN): 0:36:22
3 – AGNES JOSEFSSON (SWE – GTNS NORDICS): 0:37:16
4 – BARBORA MARKOVA (CZE – GTNS CZE/SVK/POL): 0:38:24
5 – SPELA GONZA (SLO – GTNS SLO/CRO/HUN): 0:38:29


2 – PROLOGUE – MEN
Golden Trail Series – Grand Final:
Elhousine Elazzaoui Wins the Men’s Prologue!
18TH OCTOBER 2024, 7KM, 400M V+
Ascona- Locarno, Switzerland

Elhousine Elazzaoui wins the GTS Grand Final prologue and Manuel Innerhofer takes
first place for the GTNS
Elhousine Elazzaoui was just too strong!
Despite an outstanding race from Rémi Bonnet, it was Elhousine Elazzaoui (MAR – Nnormal) who took first place at this Grand Final’s prologue. Carried along by a crowd of fans he knows and loves–he lives just a stone’s throw from Ascona-Locarno several months of the year–he managed to maintain a 25-second lead over Rémi Bonnet.

"I felt brilliant today! I was under a bit of pressure with all the people I know cheering me on, but it was a really positive experience for me. Now, there's only one more step to reach my dream! I think I’m on the right track, but I need to keep focused right up until the end!"

Manuel Innerhofer leads the GTNS final, and Pablo Van Hoorn leads the U23s
In the Golden Trail National Series, it was Manuel Innerhofer (AUT–GTNS DACH) who pipped the post first by finishing 10th overall. He finished 45 seconds ahead of the 2nd in the GTNS ranking. In the U23s, it was Pablo Van Hoorn (NDL– GTNS UK/NL) who finished first with a 35-second lead on his nearest rival.
Results – Men’s Prologue

Overall

1 – ELHOUSINE ELAZZAOUI (MAR – NNORMAL): 0:25:49 (+100 pts)
2 – RÉMI BONNET (CHE – SALOMON/RED BULL): 0:26:13 (+94 pts)
3 – PATRICK KIPNGENO (KEN – RUN2GETHER/ON AG): 0:26:40 (+88 pts)
4 – KÉVIN KIBET (KEN): 0:27:07 (+83 pts)
5 – ROBERTO DELORENZI (CHE – BROOKS): 0:27:35 (+78 pts)
6 – CHRISTIAN ALLEN (USA – NIKE TRAIL): 0:27:53 (+75 pts)
7 – DANIEL PATTIS (ITA – BROOKS): 0:28:00 (+72 pts)
8 – JOEY HADORN (CHE – SALOMON): 0:28:00 (+70 pts)
9 – PHILEMON KIRIAGO (KEN – RUN2GETHER / ON AG): 0:28:08 (+68 pts)
10 – MANUEL INNERHOFER (AUT – SALOMON): 0:28:09 (+67 pts)
GTNS – OVERALL
1 – MANUEL INNERHOFER (AUT – GTNS DACH): 0:28:09
2 – JUHO YLINEN (FIN – GTNS NORDICS): 0:28:53
3 – LIAM MEIROW (USA – GTNS USA/CAN): 0:29:15
4 – CHRIS RICHARDS (UK – GTNS UK/NL): 0:29:31
5 – LAURENT RAZAT (FRA – GTNS FRANCE): 0:29:37

GTNS–U23
1 – PABLO VAN HOORN (NDL – GTNS UK/NL): 0:30:13
2 – SIMONE GIOLITTI (ITA – GTNS ITALY): 0:30:48
3 – ALI PAPILLON (USA – GTNS USA/CAN): 0:31:32
4 – SHOTA MATSUMOTO (JAP – GTNS JAP): 0:31:50
5 – LINUS WEDIN (SWE – GTNS NORDICS): 0:32:10

GTNS – TEAMS
1 – GTNS USA/CAN: 2:12:15
2 – GTNS NORDICS: 2:15:03
3 – GTNS DACH: 2:18:59
4 – GTNS FRANCE: 2:21:31
5 – GTNS UK/NL: 2:22:23


3 – RACE – WMN
Golden Trail Series – Grand Final:
Victory for Joyline, Joyce is the Title Holder
19 TH OCTOBER 2024, 23.5 KM, 1, 400M V +
Ascona - Locarno, Switzerland

Joyline Chepngeno wins the Golden Trail World Series Grand Final but the title goes to Joyce Njeru.
Joyline dominates the final
We were expecting a duel between Joyline Chepngeno (KEN – Milimani Runners) and Joyce Njeru (KEN – Atletica Saluzzo), and it was on until Joyce twisted her ankle. With no immediate rivals and in impressive shape, Joyline Chepn geno flew to victory in this Grand Final.

"I wasn’t expecting to win this race because I’ve been suffering from a knee problem for several weeks, but I managed to get back into shape for the final. I’m thrilled because I showed what I could do at Sierre - Zinal but I haven’t been able to prove it again until now by winning the final. I really hope I can do the whole Series next year!"

Fading and struggling on the final downhill, Joyce also lost out to Lauren Gregory (USA – Nike Trail), who made the final technical section look easy! The American grabbed second place in the final kilometre.

"I had a blast on this race course, especially on the technical parts. I love this type of downhill and I managed to catch Joyce in the final loop to go neck and neck for second place. I’m definitely coming back to the Golden Trail Series next year, so I'll be choosing my races carefully to go for the more technical ones, even if I've already ticked Sierre-Zinal 2025 on my calendar."
Joyce Njeru wins the GTWS 2024!
Joyce Njeru nevertheless managed to clinch 3rd place, which meant overall victory in the
Golden Trail World Series. "I’m so happy to have won the Series! It’s a huge achievement in my career but also for my personal growth. I’m not disappointed that I didn’t win the final, everything was going fine, but I twisted my ankle halfway through the race and it became very complicated. But it doesn’t matter today, I’m just over the moon!"

Jael Morales Osegura wins the GTNS, Agnes Josefsson first in the U23s
In the Golden Trail National Series, it was the Mexican Jael Morales Osegura (MEX –
GTNS MEXICO) who won the Grand Final. She finished ahead of Silvia Schwaiger
(SVK – GTNS DACH) and Weronika Matuszczak (POL – GTNS CZE/SVK/POL) Agnes Josefsson (SWE – GTNS NORDICS) won the U23 category in front of Betty Bergstrand (UK – GTNS UK/NL) and Miriam Morales Hernandez (MEX – GTNS MEXICO).

GTNS Nordics are in the lead
After the women’s race, the GTNS NORDICS lead the team ranking ahead of GTNS MEXICO and GTNS USA/CAN.

Results – Women’s Final Overall
1 – JOYLINE CHEPNGENO (KEN – MILIMANI RUNNERS): 2:08:40 (+100 pts)
2 – LAUREN GREGORY (USA – NIKE TRAIL): 2:13:01 (+94 pts)
3 – JOYCE NJERU (KEN – ATLETICA SALUZZO): 2:13:31(+88 pts)
4 – JUDITH WYDER (CHE – HOKA /RED BULL): 2:13:58 (+83 pts)
5 – SARA ALONSO (ESP – ASICS): 2:14:08 (+78 pts)
6 – SOPHIA LAUKLI (USA – SALOMON): 2:14:40 (+75 pts)
7 – NAOMI LANG (UK – SALOMON): 2:17:52 (+72 pts)
8 – ORIA LIACI (CHE – CABV MARTIGNY): 2:18:27 (+70 pts)
9 – MALEN OSA (ESP – SALOMON): 2:20:05 (+68 pts)
10 – RACHEL TOMAJCZYK (USA – MERRELL): 2:20: 14 (+67 pts)

GTNS – OVERALL (PROLOGUE + FINAL)
1 – JAEL MORALES OSEGUERA (MEX – GTNS MEXICO): 2:57:13
2 – SILVIA SCHWAIGER (SVK – GTNS DACH): 3:00:13
3 – WERONIKA MATUSZCZAK (POL – GTNS CZE/SVK/POL): 3:01:38
4 – KRISTIANE WIDTH (FIN– GTNS NORDICS): 3:02:48
5 – SARAH CARTER (USA – GTNS USA/CAN): 3:03:56

GTNS – U23 (PROLOGUE + FINAL)
1 – AGNES JOSEFSSON (SWE – GTNS NORDICS): 3:04:08
2 – BETTY BERGSTRAND (UK –GTNS UK/NL): 3:08:28
3 – MIRIAM MORALES HERNANDEZ (MEX – GTNS MEXICO): 3:11:13
4 – NURIA LLANSO (ESP – GTNS ESP/POR): 3:12:08
5 – BARBARA MARKOVA (POL – GTNS CZE/SVK/POL): 3:12:30

GTNS – TEAMS
1 – GTNS NORDICS: 7:07:57
2 – GTNS MEXICO: 7:09:17
3 – GTNS USA/CAN: 7:20:13
4 – GTNS DACH: 7:21:05
5 – GTNS ESP: 7:33:13


Golden Trail Series – Grand Final:
Elhousine Elazzaoui the Undisputed Champion

20TH OCTOBER 2024, 23.5KM, 1,400M V+
Ascona-Locarno, Switzerland

Elhousine Elazzaoui wins the Grand Final and takes the Golden Trail World Series title.
Untouchable!
This year, after three wins in the regular season, the Moroccan Elhousine Elazzaoui (MAR – Nnormal) has just clinched the GTWS title by winning the Grand Final after an epic battle with Rémi Bonnet.

"I'm so happy, this is my dream come true! I've been wanting to win the GTWS for 5 years, and this year I announced that I was really going to do it, so I was under a bit of pressure. But I did it! I was really confident in the downhill and I knew I could go for victory. I'd like to thank all the spectators who urged me on and gave me their full support."

Rémi Bonnet (CHE – Salomon/Red Bull) gave it his all today, even attacking on the first big descent, even though his specialty is uphill racing. Nevertheless, he had to bow out to Elhousine on the final descent. "I gave it my all today! I stuck to my strategy, which was to make the race harder on the big climb so that they’d have to push hard before going even harder on the climb. It worked because the Kenyans dropped back, but Elhousine was too strong. I'm really happy for him, because he's a friend and he's been dreaming of winning the GTWS for such a long time."

Third place went to Patrick Kipngeno (KEN – Run2gether/On AG). "It was a really tough, very fast race. I fought as hard as I could and we were neck and neck with Rémi, but he was stronger today. But I'm not disappointed because I finished 2nd in the Golden Trail Series. It's only my second year on the circuit and I really feel like I've progressed this year!"

Fabian Venero is the overall winner of the GTNS and the U23s!
Despite competing in the U23 category, it was Spain’s Fabian Venero (ESP – GTNS ESP/POR) who won the Golden Trail National Series overall. He finished in front of Juho Ylinen (FIN – GTNS NORDICS) and Mattia Tanara (ITA – GTNS ITALY).

Fabian Venero also finished first in the U23s ahead of Pablo Van Hoorn (NDL – GTNS UK/NL) and Simone Giolitti (ITA – GTNS ITALY).

GTNS Nordics win the teams category
GTNS NORDICS won the team ranking by 5 minutes ahead of GTNS MEXICO and GTNS ESP/POR.

Remember, this ranking is based on the times of the best male, best female and the two best U23 male and female runners in each team (prologue + final race).


Results – Men’s Final

Overall

1 – ELHOUSINE ELAZZAOUI (MAR – NNORMAL): 1:50:19 (+300 pts)
2 – RÉMI BONNET (CHE – SALOMON/RED BULL): 1:50:58 (+282 pts)
3 – PATRICK KIPNGENO (KEN – RUN2GETHER/ON AG): 1:51:01(+264 pts)
4 – TIMOTHY KIBETT (KEN – MILIMANI RUNNERS): 1:53:07 (+249 pts)
5 – PHILEMON KIRIAGO (KEN – RUN2GETHER/ON AG): 1:54:04 (+234 pts)
6 – ROBERT PKEMOI (KEN – JOMA): 1:55:45 (+225 pts)
7 – DANIEL PATTIS (ITA – BROOKS): 1:55:47 (+216 pts)
8 – CHRISTIAN ALLEN (USA – NIKE TRAIL): 1:55:51 (+210 pts)
9 – ROBERTO DELORENZI (CHE – BROOKS): 1:58:22 (+204 pts)
10 – ALAIN SANTAMARIA BLANCO (ESP – SALOMON): 1:58:31 (+199 pts)

GTNS – OVERALL (PROLOGUE + FINAL)

1 – FABIAN VENERO (ESP – GTNS ESP/POR): 2:28:39
2 – JUHO YLINEN (FIN – GTNS NORDICS): 2:30:30
3 – MATTIA TANARA (ITA – GTNS ITALY): 2:33:03
4 – ABRAHAM HERNANDEZ CRUZ (MEX – GTNS MEXICO): 2:33:06
5 – SANDOR CZABO (HUN – GTNS SLO/CRO/HUN): 2:34:27
GTNS – U23 (PROLOGUE + FINAL)

1 – FABIAN VENERO (ESP – GTNS ESP/POR): 2:28:39
2 – PABLO VAN HOORN (NDL – GTNS UK/NL): 2:35:49
3 – SIMONE GIOLITTI (ITA – GTNS ITALY): 2:39:35
4 – SHOTA MATSUMOTO (JAP – GTNS JAPAN): 2:44:47
5 – LINUS WEDIN (SWE – GTNS NORDICS): 2:47:06

GTNS – TEAMS

1 – GTNS NORDICS: 11:24:31
2 – GTNS MEXICO: 11:29:38
3 – GTNS ESP/POR: 11:40:53
4 – GTNS DACH: 11:51:37
5 – GTNS USA/CAN: 11:52:13
Check out the full Grand Final ranking here:
https://www.endu.net/it/events/salomon-golden-trail-finals/results

Check out the 2024 Golden Trail World Series overall rankings here: https://goldentrailseries.com/series/gtws.htm
Text, Photo & Video Credits: Golden Trail Series

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