Swiss sportswear brand, On, showcased its world-class roster of athletes at the 2025 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships (WMTRC) in Canfranc, Spain over the weekend, with Katie Schide (USA) and Philemon Kiriago (KEN) capturing world championship titles, overcoming a demanding 81-kilometer Pyrenean course.
Schide, the American athlete who resides in the French Alps, led from start to finish, demonstrating her exceptional strength and technical skill – crossing the finish line in a commanding time of 9:57:59, winning by over 25 minutes to be crowned the women’s Long Trail World Champion. Her performance solidified her reputation as one of the most versatile and dominant athletes in the sport.
The championship kicked off with the Uphill race, a punishing 6.4-kilometer climb, where On’s athletes also secured top spots on the podium. Kenyan Richard Omaya Atuya, in his first-ever participation at a World Championship, demonstrated his formidable climbing ability by taking silver in a time of 39:04. Patrick Kipngeno’s bid for a third-straight world championship title victory fell just short in a highly competitive field, but a time of 39:20 helped him secure the bronze medal and rounded out a strong start to the championships for Team Kenya, which also secured the men’s team gold in the event. In the women’s race, Finland’s Susanna Saapunki, who trains at the On-supported Tuscany Camp, powered to silver in a time of 45:59.
In the final race of the championships, the men’s Classic Up and Down, Philemon Kiriago delivered a stunning performance to take home his first individual gold medal. Kiriago, who had previously earned silver in past editions, ran a tactical race on the 14-kilometer course, launching a decisive attack on the final descent to secure the win with a time of 1:02:30. His victory was a powerful culmination of his consistent excellence and marked a highlight of the weekend for the Kenyan team.
The Run2gether On Trail team secured another silver in the women’s Classic Up and Down race, where Ruth Mwihaki Gitonga powered to a second-place finish with a time of 1:12:54.
“We are incredibly proud of all our athletes who competed at the World Championships this year,” said David Kilgore, Athlete Manager at On. “Racing through the rugged terrain of the Pyrenees, in tough conditions against world-class competition, made this year’s event especially demanding and the deepest one yet. To see Katie and Philemon rise to the occasion and become world champions, along with Ruth and Richard’s silvers and Patrick’s hard-fought bronze, is a true testament to their talent and dedication.”
