Just as she had last year at the European Off-Road Running Championships in Annecy, Germany’s Nina Engelhard completed another mountain double, winning the Classic race on the final day of the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Canfranc Pirineos on Sunday (28).
There was further German success as Julia Ehrle added the world U20 title to the European U20 crown she won in 2024.
Engelhard dominates
After her victory in Thursday’s (25) Uphill race, Engelhard ran with the confidence of a champion, taking the lead from the start and scaling the first peak of Cargates 21 seconds ahead of Uganda’s Rispa Cherop.
By the time they had descended and returned to the highest point of the course, the Ugandan’s challenge had faded, leaving Engelhard 1:47 clear of Kenya’s Ruth Gitonga Mwihaki and well on her way to victory.
Engelhard completed the 14.3km course in 1:11:00, with Gitonga Mwihaki 1:54 back in silver. Oria Liaci secured bronze in 1:13:15, also leading Switzerland to team bronze behind Kenya and USA.
Six of the top seven finishers in the men’s race were from Africa, but Swiss cross-country champion Dominik Rolli impressed with fourth place in 1:03:25, just 31 seconds off the podium.
Kenya’s Ombogo Kiriago Philemon won gold in 1:02:30 ahead of Uganda’s Martin Kiprotich (1:03:14) and Kenyan teammate Paul Machoka (1:03:25). Kenya won the team title ahead of Uganda and Italy.
Classy Ehrle adds world gold to European title
In the women’s U20 race, 18-year-old Ehrle was third at the halfway point of the 7.8km course, trailing Ugandan duo Nancy Chepkwurui and Felister Chekwemoi.
But she paced it perfectly, moving through on the second ascent and descent to claim victory in 38:47. Chepkwurui took silver, 37 seconds adrift, with Chekwemoi five seconds further back for bronze.
Ehrle is a proven performer across multiple surfaces, having won bronze over 5000m at the Tampere 2025 European Athletics U20 Championships, silver over 3000m at the Banská Bystrica 2024 European Athletics U18 Championships, and placing fourth in the U20 women’s race at the Antalya 2024 SPAR European Cross Country Championships.
The men’s U20 race produced a Ugandan medal sweep, with Titus Musau taking gold ahead of Enos Chebet (silver) and Abraham Cherotich (bronze). Switzerland’s European uphill champion Matthieu Bührer put up a valiant fight, finishing fourth just 12 seconds outside the medals.