Team Kenya’s heroes from the 2025 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships (WMTRC) are still running, but this time, not up a mountain. They are running out of patience.

Months after delivering one of Kenya’s finest performances on the global mountain running stage, the athletes are yet to receive the government cash rewards pledged for medal winners at major international events. The team is owed a total of Sh1,645,287 (Euro 10,750) under the national rewards scheme following their exploits at the WMTRC held from September 25 to September 28, 2025, in Canfranc, Spain.

Philemon Kiriago led the Kenyan charge with a golden run in the men’s Mountain Classic, clocking 1:02:30 to edge Uganda’s Martin Kiprotich (1:03:14), while compatriot Paul Machoka completed the podium in third place with 1:03:25. It was a statement victory, controlled, commanding and symbolic of Kenya’s growing dominance in mountain running.

The medals kept coming. Richard Atuya powered his way to silver in the punishing Vertical Uphill race, stopping the clock at 39:04, just behind Swiss champion Remi Bonnet (37:50). Patrick Kipngeno added bronze in the same event with 39:20, underlining Kenya’s depth on steep terrain.

On the women’s side, Ruth Gitonga produced a gritty performance to claim silver in the Mountain Classic, finishing in 1:12:54 behind Germany’s Nina Engelhard (1:11:00) and ahead of Switzerland’s Oria Liaci (1:13:15). Joyce Njeru also played a crucial role as Kenya swept both the men’s and women’s Team Mountain Classic titles, a rare double that crowned Kenya the overall team powerhouse of the championships.

Yet back home, celebration has given way to frustration.

“We are yet to get our cash rewards from the government for our performances at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Spain. We request the government to reward us,” Kiriago said on Tuesday.

The WMTRC itself was a landmark event, merging the World Mountain Running Championships and the IAU Trail World Championships. It was organised by the World Mountain Running Association, International Trail Running Association and the International Association of Ultrarunners, under the sanction of World Athletics.

For Kenya’s mountain runners, the medals are already secured in history. What remains uncertain is whether the promise made to them will be honoured—not with applause, but with action.