Philemon Kiriago, after winning gold during the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Canfranc Pirineos, Spain.
Fresh from the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Canfranc Pirineos, Kipng'eng'o and Kiriago lost out to overall winner Elhousine Elazzaoui of Morocco.
Elazzaoui garnered a total of 1,000 points and was followed by Kipng'eno, who scored 953 points, while Kiriago was third with 892 points.
Michael Selelo Saoli was ranked fifth with 785 points, and Paul Machoka 10th with 671 points.
During the last event of the series - Ledro Sky Trentino Grand Finale in Italy, Elazzaou emerged winner after crossing the finishing line in 1:58:30 and was followed by World Mountain and Trail Running championships bronze medalist Kipng'eno, who clocked 1:58:50, while early race leader Machoka was relegated to third place.
Machoka clocked 1:59:32. World Mountain and Trail Running 14 km classic gold medalist Kiriago finished fifth in 2:00:15, while compatriot Saoli was sixth in 2:00:18.
Kiriago, the Mountain Running World Cup winner, said:
"It was a technical race. However, I'm happy with the fifth-place finish, which enabled me to be third overall. My target was a top-three finish, which I have achieved."
Kiriago said he will now take a break before embarking on training for the annual Tinderet Barng'etuny Mountain Run scheduled for January 17 in Tinderet, Nandi County.
"It has been a good season for me because I won the Mountain Running World Cup and also bagged gold at the World Mountain and Trail Running championships. Finishing third overall at the Golden Trail World Series is the icing on the cake," he added.
On his part, Machoka, who won a bronze at the World Mountain and Trail Running championships, said:
"It was a tough race. It has been a tough season. I'm happy with my performance because this is just my second year since I took up mountain running. Looking forward to a fruitful season next year."
In the women's category, Kenya's top-ranked runner was Joyce Njeru, who was fifth with 836 points, while Philiaries Kisang was 16th with 568 points and Valentine Rutto was 18th with 549 points.
The series comprises nine races in the US, Asia, Mexico, and Europe. The races are Kobe Trail (Japan), Jin Shan Ling Great Wall Trail (China), Il Golfo Dell Isola Trail (Italy), Zegama-Alzkorri (Spain), Broken Arrow Sky Race (US), Tepec Trail (Mexico), Pitz Alpine Glazer (Austria), Sierre-Zinal (Switzerland), and Ledro Sky Trentino Grand Finale (Italy).
