The echo of racing footsteps joined the ancient whispers of history as the Golden Trail World Series landed on perhaps its most iconic stage yet: the Jinshanling section of the Great Wall of China. On 26 April, this newcomer to the series, affectionately dubbed “Wonderwall,” presented runners with a true unknown.
They arrived to find a relentless rhythm of sharp climbs and punishing drops weaving across the best-preserved parts of this massive structure. Steep staircases, airy ridge walls, and uneven, time-worn stones beneath their feet, all while the Hebei mountains unfolded around them, dotted with spring’s blooming apricot flowers. No one quite knew how their legs would respond to the unique demands of running on history itself.
Pre-race
GTWS Jinshanling had a slightly deeper field than GTWS Kobe Trail, with Miao Yao, Joyline Chepngeno joining the women’s line-up. In the men’s field, notable absentees included Bogdan Damian (3rd at Kobe Trail) and Theo Bourgeois (7th at Kobe Trail).
The Women’s Story: A Stunning Entrance
Two o’clock in the afternoon saw the women line up. The race blasted off on asphalt, with local hope Miao Yao taking the initial charge. But the Great Wall demands its own pace, and soon a determined group formed, including Caroline Kimutai, Joyline Chepngeno, Madalina Florea, Joyce Muthoni Njeru (GTWS 2024 Overall Female Champion), and Sara Alonso (Champion at Kobe Trail the week before).
The real story began to unfold once their feet hit the ancient stone. Around 40 minutes in, making her Golden Trail World Series debut, Caroline Kimutai of Kenya surged to the front. It was a lead she never relinquished. Her powerful run looked commanding, eventually bringing her across the finish line in 02:39:14. What makes this win particularly compelling is how little experience she had on this kind of international stage.
As noted during the broadcast, this was reportedly her first trail race outside Kenya, and she’d even faced travel delays getting to China. Her team manager, however, had seen her potential, observing her strength against top competitors back home. Her resolve was put to the test again later in the race; reports suggest she took a few falls around kilometer 17 but managed to push through the difficulty to secure the win.
Following her across the line was teammate Joyline Chepngeno, who finished in 02:41:26. You might remember Chepngeno as the winner of the 2024 Sierre-Zinal and 2024 GTWS Grand Final. After skipping the opening race in Kobe, she showed her undeniable power wasn’t diminished by the Great Wall’s challenges. Madalina Florea, consistently strong, arrived third in 02:43:15. Her second-place finish in the heat of Kobe, compared with this podium amidst the Great Wall’s unique structure, showed her versatility.
Sara Alonso, fresh off her smart race win in Kobe, stayed right in the mix, finishing strongly in fourth (02:44:19). Early leader Miao Yao fought hard on her home course, ultimately placing a commendable fifth (02:50:26). It wasn’t everyone’s day, however; notably, reigning GTWS champion Joyce Muthoni Njeru and talented runner Malen Osa both had to withdraw from the race.
Here’s how the top women finished:
- Caroline Kimutai (KEN – Milimani Runners) – 02:39:14 – 200 points
- Joyline Chepngeno (KEN – Milimani Runners) – 02:41:26 – 188
- Madalina Florea (ROU – Scott) – 02:43:15 – 176
- Sara Alonso (ESP – Asics) – 02:44:19 – 166
- Miao Yao (CHN – Salomon) – 02:50:26 – 156
- Takako Takamura (JPN) – 02:54:21 – 150
- Marie Nivet (FRA – Nike) – 02:58:33 – 144
- Lingjie Chi (CHN) – 03:02:58 – 140
- Courtney Coppinger (USA) – 03:05:05 – 136
- Racheal Tomajczyk (USA – Merrell) – 03:06:08 – 133
The Men’s Battle: Kipngeno Makes It Two
On the men’s side, Ezekiel Rutto, also from Kenya, decided to test the field early, setting a fierce pace. But the Great Wall has a way of levelling things out, taking its toll and forcing shifts in the lineup.
Emerging steadily through the ranks was Patrick Kipngeno. Looking strong after his win in Kobe, the Kenyan runner showed both power and racing intelligence to claim his second victory in a row for the 2025 series (a repeat of his 2024 season). Despite mentioning he felt tired after Kobe, his finishing time of 02:13:05 suggested plenty of determination. He explained after the race that he decided to really push from kilometer 17 onward, enough to seal the win in China.
Right behind him was his Run2gether On teammate, Philemon Kiriago, crossing the line in 02:13:48. This mirrored his runner-up position from Kobe. Swiss athlete Joey Hadorn (Salomon) confirmed his excellent season start by securing third place in 02:14:03, improving on his fourth place in Japan.
Timothy Kibett ran a gutsy race for fourth place (02:17:42), while Cesare Maestri, who skipped Kobe and arrived fresh, finished fifth (02:20:38). The man who started so fast, Ezekiel Rutto, found the Wall’s latter stages tough, eventually finishing eighth (02:24:19).
And here are the top men’s results:
- Patrick Kipngeno (KEN – Run2Gether On) – 02:13:05 – 200 points
- Philemon Kiriago (KEN – Run2gether On) – 02:13:48 – 188
- Joey Hadorn (CHE – Salomon) – 02:14:03 – 176
- Timothy Kibett (KEN – Milimani Runners) – 02:17:42 – 166
- Cesare Maestri (ITA – Nike Trail) – 02:20:38 – 156
- Samwel Kiprotich (KEN – Milimani Runners) – 02:21:22 – 150
- Daniel Pattis (ITA – Brooks) – 02:23:23 – 144
- Pierre Galbourdin (FRA – Brooks) – 02:24:15 – 140
- Ezekiel Rutto (KEN – Milimani Runners) – 02:24:19 – 136
- Bogdan Damian (ROU – Datacor) – 02:25:25 – 133
The Wall’s Mark
It seems the Jinshanling Great Wall Trail Race lived up to its sense of mystery, delivering a demanding day unlike many others. The non-stop rhythm of stairs and ridge running clearly pushed athletes in ways both physical and mental. Seeing Caroline Kimutai arrive on the scene with such a statement win adds a fascinating dynamic to the women’s field going forward. In the men’s race, Patrick Kipngeno’s current form looks undeniable.
GTWS 2025 top 10 men and women rankings after two races (Kobe Trail and Jinshanling).
The Golden Trail World Series caravan now packs up and heads for the Italian coastline. Next up is Il Golfo Dell Isola Trail on May 17th. Expect different scenery but likely the same intense level of competition on its 26km/1,400m+ course beside the Ligurian Sea. We’ll be watching as the season’s story continues to unfold.
