Korea: Morocco’s Elhousine Elazzaoui Makes History with Third Consecutive Golden Trail World Series Title

Seoul – Moroccan trail runner Elhousine Elazzaoui won the Grand Final of the Golden Trail World Series (GTWS) in Muju, Korea, on Sunday, claiming his third consecutive title and becoming the most decorated athlete in the history of the global circuit.

Elazzaoui crossed the finish line in 2 hours, 49 minutes and 14 seconds on the Muju Trail, one of the circuit’s most technical and demanding courses, covering 28.65 kilometres with 2,313 metres of elevation gain.

He finished 43 seconds ahead of Kenya’s Patrick Kipngeno, while Kipngeno’s compatriot Timothy Kibett took third place, one minute and 30 seconds behind the winner.

Ranked third overall before the final race, Elazzaoui had no option but to win. The three title contenders, including Kenyan leader Philemon Kiriago, were separated by just 46 points heading into the decisive event.

Running in the rain, the Moroccan adopted an unusually aggressive strategy, attacking on the first climb towards the course’s highest point, at an altitude of around 1,600 metres.

Particularly strong on technical descents featuring stairways, rocks and rain-soaked leaves, he built a lead of more than five minutes over his pursuers before holding off Kipngeno’s late challenge.

The Grand Final awarded 300 points to the winner, compared with 200 for a regular race. Elazzaoui earned 306 points in Muju, moving from third to first place in the final standings with 1,130 points. He edged Kipngeno by just two points, with the Kenyan finishing on 1,128. Kiriago, who placed 11th in the race, dropped to third overall with 1,075 points.

“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,” the Moroccan champion said after crossing the finish line.

“Winning three Golden Trail World Series titles is a record. For me, it is truly historic,” he added.

The victory marked 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.