Kenyan Pkemoi and New Zealand's Fielder Win Flagship 21km at 43rd OTSO Travessa d'Encamp

Kenyan Robert Pkemoi won the flagship 21km race at the 43rd OTSO Travessa d'Encamp on Sunday, clocking 1:52:24 to finish ahead of France's Louis Doumas—who also claimed Friday's vertical kilometre—in 1:55:48 and Spain's Abel Carretero in 1:57:27. New Zealand's Caitlin Fielder took the women's 21km title in 2:22:11, followed by Spain's Rosa Maria Nieto in 2:32:14 and Andorran Georgina Gabarró in 2:33:18.

The Pyrenees' oldest mountain race concluded after three days from May 22 to 24, attracting around 1,400 runners from 39 countries. Sunday's shorter distances started from Plaça dels Arínsols, with Spain's Santi Hoyos leading the men's 12km and Andorran Ariadna Cerezo topping the women's in 2:07:25. Andorran Kim Ambor won the men's 7km in 49:67, ahead of Spain's Laia Rodríguez in the women's category.

The podium ceremony and prize draw took place at midday in Plaça dels Arínsols, attended by Encamp officials including Cònsol Major Laura Mas, consellers Benjamí Rascagnères and Judith Torres, Cònsol Menor Xavier Fernàndez, Andorra Turisme's Enric Torres, and OTSO Sport director Jordi Solé.

The event opened Friday with the vertical kilometre, a 4km World Cup race gaining over 1,000m from Plaça dels Arínsols to Cap de Rep and drawing about 50 entrants. Doumas won the men's event in 47:34, with Andorran FAM runner Arnau Soldevila second in 48:17—43 seconds behind—and Colombia's Esteban Chaves, a former pro cyclist based in Andorra, third in 48:21. Spain's Abel Carretero and Northern Ireland's Zak Hanna completed the top five. Serbia's Sladjana Zagorac led the women in 57:35, ahead of Spain's María Benito, Belgium's Charlotte Cotton in 1:00:24, Spain's Aitana Domènech and Reyes Moreno, and Andorran Noemí Fajardo in 10th. The day featured a festive atmosphere with music, exhibitions, catering, and bib collection.

Saturday included the marathon and debut 84km race, both FEDME Spanish Cup events. Local runner Samuel Ponce secured his third consecutive marathon win over 42km in 4:15:15, finishing to cheers in Plaça dels Arínsols before receiving his medal from Cònsol Major Laura Mas. He noted the pleasure of racing at home amid rising competition. ASICS Trail's Valentin Benard placed second in 4:41:15, with ASICS Team's Genís Porqueras Simó third in 4:43:10. OTSO Sport's Rianna Nelson won the women's marathon in 5:47:08, followed by OTSO Team's Anna Fernandez in 5:49:10 and JAB Berga's Alisa Prokhorova in 5:54:53. The 265-runner marathon passed through Vall dels Cortals and Beixalís, with partial adjustments due to high-altitude snow.

In the 84km, EXCTA Oliana's Marc Bernades Olle prevailed in 8:05:49, ahead of Pere Aurell in 8:52:20 and Aitor Pulgarin in 9:00:20. De Naturaleza Salvaje's Sandra Cuello Capistrós took the women's title in 10:43:49, with Team Scarpa-Nedao's Sílvia Puigarnau Coma second in 10:48:00 and Míriam Llop Bielsa third in 11:24:25. A non-competitive children's race also ran.

Solé praised runner feedback on route markings, volunteers, and aid stations, noting over 300 entrants in the 21km and top nationalities as Spain, France, and Andorra. Snow led to minor shortenings, particularly on the 21km and 84km. Fernàndez described the event as a success for Encamp's spring economy, boosting restaurants, hotels, and shops to extend tourism beyond peak seasons, and confirmed planning for the 44th edition.

Proceeds from the Memorial Jaume Bou—€1 per entry—will support childhood cancer research at SJD Pediatric Cancer Center Barcelona in Hospital Sant Joan de Déu.