The 16th edition of the adidas Transvulcania officially kicked off its competitive events with two standout performers in the first of its challenges, the Vertical Kilometer. Richard Omaya Atuya and Joyce Muthoni Njeru prevailed in the race that kicks off the iconic adidas Transvulcania series and were the fastest to complete the demanding course stretching from Puerto de Tazacorte to Torre de El Time, breaking the race records.
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As is always the case with races held in this individual start format, the Adidas Transvulcania Vertical Kilometer—part of the World Mountain Running Association circuit—proved to be a spectacular and thrilling event. As runners crossed the finish line, the race lead changed hands time and again.
The early stages were dominated by the runners from the Canary Islands, who performed at an exceptionally high level. The action unfolded on the grueling climbs of the La Palma course. Guillermo Ramos Muñoz clocked an impressive 51:10 to take the provisional lead before the big names in the race even took to the course.
After that, Aythami Brito (55:33)—the top finisher from La Palma—came in, followed by Álvaro Escuela, who finished tenth (51:36); Marco Rodríguez (50:58), who would end up eighth; and Sergio Álvarez (50:43), who took seventh place overall. Tyler McCandless (48:46) took the lead just as Richard Omaya Atuya began to pick up the pace, looking fresher than his compatriots.
Atuya’s true class was on full display at the finish line, where he smashed Stian Angermud-Vik’s 2017 course record with a time of 2:21. Atuya set the race record at an impressive 45:01, with his compatriot Philemon Kiriago finishing second (47:33) and Ephantus Njer rounding out an all-Kenyan podium (47:39).
The women’s race was packed with excitement and wasn’t decided until the very end. Beatriz Hernández set the initial pace (1:10:03), but it wasn’t long before Kirsty Sky Dixon, the British runner, surprised everyone with her accelerating pace, posting the fastest split time ahead of Benedetta Broggi, Silvia Lara, Camilla Magliano, and Moana Lilly Kehres, among others.
Sky Dixon’s finish was a triumphant one, as she broke the race record previously held by Maude Mathis since last year’s event. The British runner clocked a time of 55:37 minutes and emerged as the virtual winner as she overtook everyone coming in behind her.
Thus, Ruth Gitonga (58:00) also failed to beat Dixon, nor did Broggi (58:30) or Moana, who would finish fifth with a time of 58:35. Dixon was the undisputed star until Joyce Muthoni Njeru arrived, shattering all records with a staggering time of 55:02—a record from another galaxy.
Thus, the adidas Transvulcania wrapped up its first day of competition by breaking two records that had seemed unbreakable, and urging fans to tune in for Saturday’s races, where more all-time records could fall.
The Transvulcania Adidas Terrex is organized by the Island Council of La Palma through the public company SODEPAL, with the support of the Government of the Canary Islands, through the Department of Tourism and Promotur with its “Islas Canarias Latitud de Vida” brand, as well as adidas, Hotel H10 Taburiente Playa, Hotel La Palma Princess, Hotel Meliá La Palma, Fred. Olsen Express, Cicar, Spar La Palma, Coca-Cola, Libbys, Isola, and Nutrinovex.
