Kiriago Led Golden Trail World Series Standings
Patrick Kipng'eno took victory at the Myoko Trail race in Japan, reshaping the standings as the season nears its conclusion.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Running
Live Poll
Do you follow competitive mountain running events throughout the season?
Philemon Kiriago currently holds the lead in the Golden Trail World Series with 860 points after finishing second at the Myoko Trail race. His performance in Japan follows a win by Patrick Kipng'eno, who completed the course in 2:07:12.
Why it matters
The standings remain highly competitive as the series moves toward its final events, with Kiriago defending his narrow lead against challengers like Elhousine Elazzaoui.
Kiriago maintains a 36-point lead over Elazzaoui in the current series rankings. Maldina Florea leads the women's series standings with a total of 872 points.
The players
Philemon Kiriago
He is the current leader of the Golden Trail World Series standings.
Patrick Kipng'eno
He is a professional trail runner who recently won the Myoko Trail race in Japan.
Maldina Florea
She currently holds the top position in the women's series standings.
Elhousine Elazzaoui
He is a top-ranked competitor currently holding 824 points in the series standings.
Michael Saoli
He is a competitive trail runner who completed the Myoko Trail race in third place.
The details
The Myoko Trail race challenged participants with a 24.7 km course featuring 2,020m of elevation gain. Patrick Kipng'eno secured the win with a time of 2:07:12, followed by Kiriago in 2:08:37 and Michael Saoli in 2:09:06.
Timeline
September 27, 2026: The Jinshanling Great Wall Trail Race takes place in China.
October 2-3, 2026: The Mountain Running World Cup occurs in Canmore, Canada.
October 24, 2026: The series concludes with the Muju Trail Grand Finale in South Korea.
Season Trajectory
The standings fluctuate significantly as athletes earn points across various international terrains, directly impacting the final qualification for the Muju Trail Grand Finale. This trajectory determines which runners secure the title in one of the most prestigious circuits in competitive trail running.
Kiriago enters the final stretch of the season with a narrow 36-point cushion over Elazzaoui, forcing a high-stakes performance requirement for both runners. Athletes are now positioning themselves for the final points tally at the Grand Finale to secure their season standing.
The takeaway
Consistency across varied elevation profiles remains the deciding factor in the Golden Trail World Series. Runners aiming for the title must balance endurance at the Myoko-style intensity with high-stakes performance in the upcoming series finals.
What happens next
The Golden Trail World Series will conclude with the Muju Trail Grand Finale in South Korea on October 24, 2026.
Further reading
For more information on the international circuit, visit the Running section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Star.
Live Poll
Do you follow competitive mountain running events throughout the season?
