Muju:Korea Moroccan athlete Elhousine Elazzaoui has made history by clinching his third consecutive Golden Trail World Series title. He achieved this feat by completing the Muju Trail, known for its technical and demanding nature, in 2 hours, 49 minutes, and 14 seconds. The course spans 28.65 kilometers and features an elevation gain of 2,313 meters.
According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, Elazzaoui finished 43 seconds ahead of Kenya’s Patrick Kipngeno, while Kipngeno’s fellow countryman Timothy Kibett secured third place, trailing the winner by one minute and 30 seconds. Before the final race, Elazzaoui was ranked third overall, necessitating a win to claim the title. The top contenders, including Kenyan leader Philemon Kiriago, were closely separated by just 46 points as they entered the decisive event.
Elazzaoui adopted an aggressive strategy amid rainy conditions, attacking on the first climb to the course’s highest point at approximately 1,600 meters. His strength on technical descents, which included stairways, rocks, and rain-soaked leaves, enabled him to build a lead of over five minutes. He successfully fended off a late challenge from Kipngeno to secure the victory.
The Grand Final awarded 300 points to the winner, a significant increase from the 200 points typically allocated in a regular race. Elazzaoui amassed 306 points in Muju, propelling him from third to first place in the final standings with a total of 1,130 points. He narrowly edged out Kipngeno, who finished with 1,128 points, while Kiriago, who placed 11th in the race, dropped to third overall with 1,075 points.
Reflecting on his achievement, Elazzaoui expressed the gravity of the moment by saying, “Today, I gave everything. I knew I was taking risks (…) I even wrote ‘To be or not to be’ on my hands to remind myself that today was all or nothing.” He added that winning three Golden Trail World Series titles is a record and truly historic for him.
This victory marks Elazzaoui’s fourth win of the season, following triumphs at Zegama-Aizkorri in Spain, Ledro Sky Trentino in Italy, and the Pitz Alpine Glacier Trail in Austria.