Athletics Kenya pledges full support for mountain runners in future

AK President Mutwii said AK will expose mountain runners to more races.

by ANGWENYI GICHANA

Sports02 October 2025 - 08:38

In Summary

Muthwii spoke at Riadha House when he received the team that represented Kenya at the just concluded World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Canfranc Pirineos, Spain.
During the championships, Kenya was represented by 15 athletes, accompanied by five officials.

Audio By Vocalize

Athletics Kenya (AK) senior vice president Paul Mutwii says the federation will give mountain runners similar support offered to the other athletes.

Mutwii said AK will expose mountain runners to more races.

“From now on, we shall give mountain runners proper support. We will ensure you get proper training and attend races abroad. We promise to take mountain running more seriously,” he said.

Muthwii spoke at Riadha House when he received the team that represented Kenya at the just concluded World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Canfranc Pirineos, Spain.

“You have made us proud, and I’m impressed by your performance. We shall work with AK Mountain Running coordinator, Peter Angwenyi, to ensure your interests are well taken care of so that you perform better in future championships,” noted Mutwii.

During the championships, Kenya was represented by 15 athletes, accompanied by five officials. Kenya won four individual medals and three team titles during the five-day championships. Ten athletes arrived on Tuesday evening, while five headed to Italy for the finals of the Mountain Running Golden Series.

Philemon Kiriago, who won Kenya’s lone individual gold medal, is among the athletes who left for the Golden Trail Series alongside bronze medallist Patrick Kipng’eno, silver medalist Richard Atuya, Phiares Kisang, and Michael Saoli

Speaking at JKIA, Joyce Njeru, who was part of the Team Kenya that won a gold in the 14 km classic race, said: “I would like to thank AK and the Ministry of Sports for the support they gave us. For the first time, we had a near-full team. We are looking forward to the next championships to be held in Cape Town, South Africa.”

Njeru and bronze medallist, Paul Machoka, appealed to the government to recognise and reward mountain runners like other athletes who represent Kenya at World Championships and Olympics. “We should also be rewarded like the athletes who won medals at the Tokyo World Championships,” said Machoka.

Coach Geoffrey Gikuni said, “We are happy with the performance of Team Kenya. It was a good championship for us. Mountain running is becoming popular and very competitive across the world.”

Peter Sang said, despite travel hiccups, Kenya performed well. “It was very competitive because we had 72 countries represented,” said Sang.