Kiriago, it’s a record at Nasego! Engelhard double, Italy triumphs in the 7Nations
Kenyan Wave at the Trofeo Nasego: the Run2Gether dream team confirms its dominance, filling the top ten with its “galacticos”. A spectacular performance by defending champion Kiriago, who triumphs for the second consecutive year and sets the new record for the great Savallese classic. In the women’s race, a great victory for Ruth Gitonga after a wonderful battle with Nina Engelhard. 7Nations Memorial Niboli: a triumph for the blue jerseys of Italy, led by the excellent performance of Arianna Dentis who finishes 4th, entering a stellar top ten.
Casto, September 6, 2026
A grand finale for the Nasego 2026 Weekend, with the great classic Trofeo Nasego deciding the fate of the WMRA Mountain Running World Cup and putting up for grabs the prestigious Memorial Silvestro Niboli Seven Nations, the official international match that has been the event within the event for a few years now.
Once again, two races with incredibly high competitive levels, featuring numerous European and World titles among the resumes presented on the eve of the event. A punctual mass start for men and women together kicked off the classic race from Via Roma in Casto at 9:30 AM, in front of a great crowd of enthusiasts and curious onlookers.
The Women’s Race
The women’s race, in many ways the most unpredictable, soon opened with an attack by Ruth Gitonga, the World Cup leader determined to settle the matter here. On her trail was Nina Engelhard, who broke away despite having announced a cautious tactic after the triumphant fatigue of her Vertical Nasego run just over 24 hours earlier. For the reigning world champion, there was a gap of about 30″ at the first checkpoint in Alone, within a small group that also included Miriam Chepkirui, Joyce Njeru, and Gloria Chebet – all clustered within a minute of each other.
The race seemed unable to change its complexion, and at the start of the dreaded climb to the Nasego refuge in Piazze, Gitonga held a 1’30” advantage over Engelhard and 1’48” over Chepkirui, while behind them, Scottish runner Kirsty Dickson and Italy’s Arianna Dentis were recovering strongly. The final climb to Nasego reset the gaps as Engelhard launched a decisive attack, reducing her deficit to Gitonga to just 25″.
Cresting the hill, however, was providential for the Kenyan, who managed to hold on and complete the feat of etching her name into the Trofeo Nasego roll of honor: Ruth Gitonga is the 2026 champion in 1h47’07”, the 6th fastest time ever on the course. The gap at the finish line remained practically unchanged for Nina Engelhard, who took 2nd place to cap off a weekend where she was an absolute protagonist, having also secured a clear victory in the vertical. Miriam Chepkirui took 3rd place to complete the podium. There was genuine and exciting celebration for the 4th place finish of today’s best Italian, Arianna Dentis, who clocked 1h52’51”, the 2nd best Italian female time ever recorded here. The athlete from Cuneo ran a perfectly managed tactical and competitive race, landing her in a historic top ten, followed in sequence by Kenyans Gloria Chebet and Joyce Muthoni Njeru, Austrian Andrea Mayr, Scotland’s Kirsty Dickson, and the two Swiss athletes Axelle Genoud and Flurina Eicholzer-Bott.
The Men’s Race
The men’s race had a completely different tone, where the Kenyan “Galacticos” of the Run2Gether-ON team entirely sealed the race from the very first moments. They initially launched the young Njeri and Kariuki into a sort of crazy early lead, only to let their two true superstars take the stage: Philemon Kiriago and Patrick Kipngeno. The race started at an incredible pace, relegating the rest of the pack to 30″ behind after less than 3 km. News arrived of the withdrawals of Richard Atuya and Brayan Rodriguez, and simultaneously of Petro Mamu trying to stay in the opponents’ wake, dragging along a tough Michael Galassi, the Swedish Nilsson, and Andrea Rostan, all trying to keep the Italian jerseys up front.
The race flowed quickly in the first half with a relentless pace that seemed to take its toll on Run2Gether captain Kipngeno, while Kiriago tried to pull away, tailed by Kariuki and Njeri. But it was a flash in the pan; at the start of the climb, “Kip” was right where he belonged. After retaking the lead, he revved his engine and split the race in two. Only Kiriago could resist him and, in fact, counterattacked, cresting the KOM (King of the Mountain) at the Nasego Refuge with a time identical to last year’s: 1h13’53”. Kipngeno was just 5″ behind, Saoli at 56″, Kariuki at 1’24”, followed gradually by Machoka, Mamu, a heroic Galassi, Nilsson, Njeri, and the British runner Matthew Knowles, who, as a proverbial descender, tried to set the stage for a late comeback.
The finale delivered pure spectacle and adrenaline, with the Kenyan gazelles literally flying, trying everything to lower a record that has stood since 2022. Kipngeno had paid the price several times in the final stages of previous races against his teammate Kiriago, and this edition of Nasego was no different, with Philemon’s decisive thrust coming in the section most suited to him. The 2025 titleholder confirmed his dominance and rewrote history: 1h30’08”!!!
A well-deserved runner-up spot for Patrick Kipngeno, who finished 1’02” behind the winner, with the podium completed by Michael Saoli. After celebrating the record-breaking performance, attention shifted to the top ten, which offered an enviable parade during the legendary Nasego closing ceremony, with great focus on the placements of the athletes competing in the 7 Nations.
4th place went to Kariuki, 5th to Paul Machoka, and then a revived and proud Petro Mamu Shaku in 6th – the Eritrean runner proving he still possesses flashes of class after a very disappointing vertical. Matthew Knowles completed his comeback to enter the top 10, bringing crucial points to England in the 7Nations. 8th was the Swede Martin Nilsson, and 9th was the best of the Italians, Michael Galassi, who also redeemed himself after a day to forget in the vertical. France closed out the top ten with Mael Henric, the surprise of the 2026 Trophy, weaving one of those classic stories that only the magic of Nasego – which over the years has launched many champions into the global firmament – knows how to tell.
ITALY CHAMPION!!
The 7 Nations Memorial Silvestro Niboli saw the triumphant confirmation of Italy. After a vertical where the performances of Andrea Elia and Henri Aymonod paved the way, today Italy found the decisive placements from Arianna Dentis, Michael Galassi, Andrea Rostan, and Benedetta Broggi to hoist the prestigious trophy into the Famea sky. In 2nd place was France, confirming itself as an international powerhouse, with today’s decisive performances coming from Henric Mael and Theodore Klein. 3rd went to a surprising England, who managed a comeback over Scotland, inspired by Matthew Knowles’ great race and another solid performance by Edward Hobbs.
Quotes from the Protagonists
Philemon Kiriago: > “First of all, it’s a pleasure to be back here in Casto at the Trofeo Nasego. I am happy. I prepared for this goal. I am happy to have won and also to have taken the course record. How wonderful it is to run the Trofeo Nasego! The race was fantastic. There were strong runners right from the start, but I tried to maintain the pace to control the gap. I was focused on the course record and I am truly happy to have achieved this goal set at the beginning of the season!”
Michael Galassi: “In the end, I am satisfied because I haven’t been feeling well for three days. I had a cold, I’m a bit weak, and so today even I don’t know how I managed to pull off a race like this. Perhaps in the end it was almost the best of the season because given how I felt today, I really exceeded my own expectations. It’s beautiful to run Nasego, nothing to say. One of the most beautiful races internationally and I am always happy to come here. Especially when defending the blue jersey, it is even more emotional, so that’s fine, come on.”
Nina Engelhard: > “I gave everything I had yesterday, I gave everything today as well and I don’t know what else to say! I am thrilled with my second place!”
Ruth Gitonga: “I arrived aware of my condition and therefore took the race in the lead, confident in my abilities. It was all beautiful: I am truly happy. I was very moved by the cheering of so many people along the whole course. Thank you, Nasego!”
Arianna Dentis: > “I am very happy. Casto is somewhat of a second home now since my partner lives not far away. It was a beautiful comeback race because we started a little more cautiously, or rather, pushing as much as was necessary in the first part of the race. From the Panels onwards it was a comeback race and especially the descent: it was about letting the legs go and turning off the mind! What a satisfaction!”
Complete rankings at this link and in the attached PDF for the two overall standings.
Other Info Official Site: www.trofeonasegocorsainmontagna.com
Photos Attached in Press Kit (free to use – credit: Giada Simonetti, Davide Vaninetti)
Nasego : The Two Races, Courses and Logistics
Vertical Nasego and Trofeo Nasego are international Mountain Running competitions included in the WORLD ATHLETICS/WMRA global calendar and in the national FIDAL calendar. They have been selected multiple times as official stages of the Mountain Running World Cup and, since 2023, they also host an invitational competition for national teams.
Vertical Nasego – Course Overview
The Vertical course starts in the centre of Casto and climbs to the iconic summit of Corna di Savallo at 1,436 metres above sea level, gaining 1,000 metres of elevation over 3.7 km on roads, mule tracks, and mountain trails. Refreshments at altitude, changing rooms, showers, lunch, and the awards ceremony are all located at the Famea Sports Centre. A dedicated clothing transport service allows athletes to send a small bag with spare gear directly to the finish area at the top.
Trofeo Nasego – Course Overview
The Trofeo Nasego course stretches for approximately 21.4 km with a total positive elevation gain of 1,330 metres. The start is identical to the Vertical, with the traditional parade along Casto’s main street before the athletes dive into a fast, undulating first section on forest roads and wide trails between the Ferrate area, the hamlet of Alone, and the Vrenda Bridge. Around kilometre 10.6, the race changes completely: a long climb begins, passing through Valgrande and Piazze and leading to the King of the Mountain prize at Rifugio Nasego, the symbolic heart of the entire event (and the former finish line until 2014). From the 1,300-metre altitude of Nasego, athletes face a demanding descent that brings them to the finish line in Famea in less than 4 km, where all services are available and the final ceremony takes place.
An Event with Rapidly Growing Prestige
“Nasego” is a relatively young event compared to other historic Italian mountain running races, yet in just a few years—thanks to exceptional organisational quality and significant investment from the entire community of Casto and its hamlets—it has risen to the status of an internationally renowned classic. Top athletes from across Europe and around the world dream of competing here, and the best Italians regularly battle for supremacy on these trails.
Nasego is more than a race: it is a true sporting spectacle with its own rituals and traditions, unmissable for both amateur runners seeking a challenging test alongside world-class champions and for spectators who, over two festive days, enjoy the competitions as well as cultural and social events hosted at the Famea Sports Centre.
A Modern History of Champions
The recent history of the event—since the introduction in 2016 of the Vertical and the looped course that brings athletes back to Famea after passing Rifugio Nasego—tells a story of champions, rivalries, and unforgettable moments in mountain running.
Our Roll of Honour:
| anno | vincitore | tempo | vincitrice | tempo |
| 2015 | Isaac Kiprop (UGA) | 1h31’03” | Francesca Iachemet (ITA) | 1h54’04” |
| 2016 | Xavier Chevrier (ITA) | 1h36’36” | Sara Bottarelli (ITA) | 1h54’44” |
| 2017 | Cesare Maestri (ITA) | 1h35’58” | Alice Gaggi (ITA) | 1h58’28” |
| 2018 | Alessandro Rambaldini (ITA) | 1h37’01” | Alice Gaggi (ITA) | 1h55’15” |
| 2019 | Andrew Douglas (SCO) | 1h35’37” | Lucy Wambui Murigi (KEN) | 1h52’23” |
| 2020 | Sylvain Cachard (FRA) | 1h34’11” | Sarah McCormack (IRL) | 1h52’32” |
| 2021 | Petro mamu Shaku (ERI) | 1H32’55” | Grayson Murphy (USA) *RECORD* | 1H45’56” |
| 2022 | Patrick Kipngeno (KEN) *RECORD* | 1H30’46” | Andrea Mayr (AUT) | 1H47’32” |
| 2023 | Philemon Kiriago (KEN) | 1H31’00” | Andrea Mayr (AUT) | 1H46’06” |
| 2024 | Patrick Kipngeno (KEN) | 1H31’26” | Joyce Njeru (KEN) | 1H51’33” |
| 2025 | Philemon Kiriago (KEN) | 1H31’43” | Philaries Kisang (KEN) | 1H46’16” |
| *il percorso ufficiale attuale è valido dall’edizione 2016 | ||||
| anno | vincitore | tempo | vincitrice | tempo |
| 2016 | Nicola Pedergnana (ITA) | 34’45” | Valentina Belotti (ITA) | 39’23” |
| 2017 | Patrick Facchini (ITA) | 35’31” | Valentina Belotti (ITA) | 43’09” |
| 2018 | Patrick Facchini (ITA) | 36’14” | Denisa Dragomir (ROU) | 45’10” |
| 2019 | Davide Magnini (ITA) | 35’17” | Andrea Mayr (AUT) | 38’39” |
| 2020 | Henri Aymonod (ITA) | 35’47” | Valentina Belotti (ITA) | 43’12” |
| 2021 | Henri Aymonod (ITA) | 35’38” | Andrea Mayr (AUT) | 38’51” |
| 2022 | Patrick Kipngeno (KEN) | 33’47” | Andrea Mayr (AUT) | 38’48” |
| 2023 | Patrick Kipngeno (KEN) | 34’25” | Andrea Mayr (AUT) *RECORD* | 38’06” |
| 2024 | Patrick Kipngeno (KEN) | 34’28” | Andrea Mayr (AUT) | 40’51” |
| 2025 | Richard O. Atuya (KEN) *RECORD* | 33’23” | Philaries Kisang (KEN) | 38’55” |
| *il percorso ufficiale attuale è valido dall’edizione 2017 |
