Spain\u2019s Rodrigue Kwizera and Ethiopia\u2019s Likina Amebaw claimed victory at the Cross Internacional de It\u00e1lica held in Santiponce on the outskirts of Seville yesterday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kwizera earned his third victory at the event, equalling the record held by Kenenisa Bekele, while Amebaw secured her first win after finishing third last year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The men\u2019s 9.55km race began with Spanish steeplechaser Dani Arce leading alongside compatriots Juan Antonio P\u00e9rez and Miguel Chazarra, while the main favourites settled into the chasing pack. The opening 2370m lap was covered in a moderate 6:59, with a sizeable group still together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The pace remained steady during the second lap, covered in 7:08, before Uganda\u2019s Dismas Yeko began to push harder. The leading group was reduced to nine, with three-time world cross-country silver medallist Berihu Aregawi remaining towards the back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kenya\u2019s Charles Kiboino then increased the tempo, covering the third lap in 6:44. Aregawi began to lose ground, as did Kenya\u2019s Denis Kipkemoi and Spanish duo Chazarra and Thierry Ndikumwenayo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With the clock reading 19:45, only Kwizera and Kenya\u2019s world U20 cross-country and 5000m champion Frankline Kibet could stay with Kiboino.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The final lap developed into a thrilling contest as Kiboino attempted to break clear, but neither Kwizera nor Kibet could be shaken off. The trio entered the final 200m together before Kwizera unleashed his finishing speed to edge his two younger rivals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kwizera crossed the line in 27:37, one second ahead of Kiboino, with Kibet another second behind in third.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe circuit had some minor changes, but they made it tougher,\u201d said Kwizera, who has won the World Athletics Cross Country Tour for the past four seasons. \u201cThe young Kenyans pushed me to the limit, but I knew the circuit and was confident in my finishing speed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAfter so many years competing as a foreigner in Spain, this first victory as a Spaniard means a lot to me and my coach Llu\u00eds Torl\u00e0.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The women\u2019s 9.55km race was initially led by Uganda\u2019s world U20 5000m champion Charity Cherop, followed closely by Amebaw, Ethiopia\u2019s Yenenesh Shimket, Kenyans Maurine Chebor and Cynthia Chepkurui, and Burundi\u2019s Francine Niyomukunzi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cherop continued to push the pace through the opening lap, covered in 8:00, gradually reducing the leading group to four as Niyomukunzi and Chebor dropped back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Ugandan maintained her relentless pace on the second lap, clocking 7:32, with Amebaw tucked in behind while Chepkurui and Shimket followed in single file. Shimket then lost contact midway through the third lap, leaving three athletes in contention for victory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After another fast lap of 7:30, Chepkurui began to struggle and Amebaw launched a decisive attack at the bell, immediately opening a gap on Cherop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Ethiopian, who is based in Peguerinos in the Spanish province of \u00c1vila, maintained her advantage throughout the final lap to win in 30:41, eight seconds ahead of Cherop. Chepkurui completed the podium in 30:57.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Further back, the Netherlands\u2019 Amina Maatoug finished seventh to take the honours as the leading European, 33 seconds ahead of Spain\u2019s Carolina Robles in eighth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m especially happy because this is my first win here,\u201d said Amebaw. \u201cI\u2019m impressed by the level shown by the young athletes, especially Cherop, but I managed to stay close to her before breaking away on the last lap, which was my pre-race tactic.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Emeterio Valiente for World Athletics<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Men (9.55km)<\/strong> Women (9.55km)<\/strong> Spain\u2019s Rodrigue Kwizera and Ethiopia\u2019s Likina Amebaw claimed victory at the Cross Internacional de It\u00e1lica held in Santiponce<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":17474,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[50],"class_list":["post-17598","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newsbeat","tag-athletics"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tLeading results<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
1 Rodrigue Kwizera (ESP) 27:37
2 Charles Kiboino (KEN) 27:38
3 Frankline Kibet (KEN) 27:39
4 Denis Kipkemoi (KEN) 27:52
5 Thierry Ndikumwenayo (ESP) 27:59
6 Miguel Chazarra (ESP) 28:00
7 Andrew Alamisi (KEN) 28:17
8 Dismas Yeko (UGA) 28:24
9 Berihu Aregawi (ETH) 28:24
10 Samuel Simba Cherop (UGA) 28:42<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1 Likina Amebaw (ETH) 30:41
2 Charity Cherop (UGA) 30:49
3 Cynthia Chepkurui (KEN) 30:57
4 Yenenesh Shimket (ETH) 31:24
5 Maurine Chebor (KEN) 32:02
6 Francine Niyomukunzi (BDI) 32:06
7 Amina Maatoug (NED) 32:18
8 Carolina Robles (ESP) 32:51
9 Mar\u00eda Forero (ESP) 33:16
10 Elena Burkard (GER) 33:21<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"