Kenya’s Patrick Kipngeno was crowned the 2024 Mountain Running World Cup men’s champion. In this interview, he talks about how he exceeded his own expectations at the world cup finals, where he placed third in the vertical kilometer and won the trail race on back-to-back weekend days; about the challenges of racing in very competitive fields; and what his next race will be.
For more on how the finals played out, read our in-depth 2024 Mountain Running World Cup VK results article, and 2024 Mountain Running World Cup Trail Race results article.
Patrick Kipngeno, 2024 Mountain Running World Cup Champion, Interview Transcript
iRunFar: Meghan Hicks of iRunFar. I’m with Patrick Kipngeno. It’s the day of the 2024 Mountain Running World Cup Finals and you are the series champion. Hongera sana. Congratulations.
Patrick Kipngeno: Thank you, thank you.
iRunFar: How are you feeling? You have had two races in a row, two big races in a row.
Kipngeno: Yeah, I’m feeling great. I thank God because I wasn’t expecting that I am going to win today’s race, but I am happy because I won today’s race.
iRunFar: A quick question about yesterday’s race. You took third in the vertical kilometer uphill. How did you feel during that race? Were you taking it easy to save yourself for today?
Kipngeno: No, yesterday, you know, I’m good in uphill, so I was trying to push very hard, but unfortunately I become for position three, and I was happy for being position three.
iRunFar: And then after yesterday’s race, how did you feel? Did you feel like you were going to be able to recover enough for today?
Kipngeno: Yes, I tell myself that I have to compete and I want to be in the podium side. For me, I was saying that I want to be in the podium side.
iRunFar: Coming into this weekend as the leader in the Mountain Running World Cup series, did you feel pressure to make sure to hold on to that first-place position?
Kipngeno: No, I was not having any pressure.
iRunFar: No pressure. And then how did today feel? How was the race course for you?
Kipngeno: The race was very tactical, and I knew in the beginning that we were having a very big name in the crowd, and I tell myself that I want to be in the podium and I was not having any pressure.
iRunFar: Amazing. The men’s race went back and forth for the lead for a long time. I think it wasn’t until the last few kilometers that you took over the lead ultimately. Tell us about that moment.
Kipngeno: When we were in around 17, 18 kilometers, I was at my side, I was saying that I want to be in the podium and then reaching 20 kilometers, there was a junction where we got a bit lost there. Then we come back and we started running very fast toward the finishing line.
iRunFar: And you had a look of relief at the finish line. Is that how you felt?
Kipngeno: Yeah, yeah. I was very happy to become a champion.
iRunFar: Champion of this race, champion of the 2024 Mountain Running World Cup. Now next weekend is the Golden Trail World Series Finals. You compete again there?
Kipngeno: Yeah, I will be there, and I’m going to fight to be in the podium side also.
iRunFar: You are going into those finals second in the series, so another fight is ahead.
Kipngeno: Yeah, another fight is ahead and it is very tough.
iRunFar: Best of luck to you in the Golden Trail World Series next weekend, and congratulations on your win of the 2024 Mountain Running World Cup.
Kipngeno: Thank you, thank you so much.
iRunFar: Asante sana.
Kipngeno: Karibu.
iRunFar: I know you have to go to the airport, so go!
Kipngeno: Thank you.
