Likina Amebaw celebrates her win at the 2023 Cross Internacional Zornotza (© Asociacion ADOC)
The Cross Internacional Zornotza, the first Gold-level fixture of this season’s World Athletics Cross Country Tour, takes place in the Spanish town of Amorebieta on Sunday (19).
Both the men’s and women’s races will cover 8.7km, with Ethiopia’s Likina Amebaw headlining the women’s event and the men’s contest appearing wide open.
Amebaw, based in Spain, has enjoyed a superb 2025 season, setting personal bests at 1500m (4:00.14), 5000m (14:30.54), 5km (14:33) and 10km (29:40). Last month she also set a half marathon PB of 1:04:44 to win in Copenhagen and followed it two weeks later to win over 10km in Casablanca in 29:55 before resuming training at her altitude base in Peguerinos (Avila).
Amebaw, who finished third in the 3000m at the Diamond League Final, and won in Amorebieta in 2023, returns as the clear favourite.
Portugal’s Mariana Machado and Spain’s Majida Maayouf are expected to challenge for the podium. Machado, the 2019 European U20 3000m silver medallist, broke 15 minutes for 5000m (14:53.91) in April and makes her Amorebieta debut. Maayouf, the European silver medallist and Spanish marathon record-holder (2:21:27), finished runner-up here last year.
Spanish hopes also include Angela Viciosa, fourth in the U23 race at the 2023 European Cross Country Championships and bronze medallist at this year’s national championships.
In the men’s race, Burundi looks poised to extend its winning streak to four consecutive victories. Italy-based duo Elie Sindayikengdera and Emilie Hafashimana, both of whom came close to breaking 13 minutes for 5000m this year, are the leading contenders.
Hafashimana, who finished seventh in the 5000m at the 2024 World U20 Championships, recently defeated Sindayikengdera over 10 miles in Amsterdam (46:20 to 47:45). They’ll be joined by compatriot Thierry Irakoze (13:32.33).
Spanish cross-country champion Yahya Aouina and Nassim Hassaous, seventh at last year’s European Cross Country Championships in Antalya, will aim to challenge the Burundian trio.
Amorebieta hosted the 1993 World Cross Country Championships, where William Sigei and Albertina Dias took victory, and a young Paula Radcliffe made her senior international debut, finishing 18th.
The weather is forecast to be cloudy with a high chance of rain, with temperatures about 24C during the races.
Emeterio Valiente for World Athletics
First Gold of the season
The cross-country season is in full swing after the 2025-2026 World Athletics Cross Country Tour kicked off with a Silver meeting in Lidingo, Sweden, on 27 September. Attention now turns to the first Gold event of the series.
There are currently 27 competitions on the 2025-2026 Cross Country Tour calendar, comprising 13 Gold meetings, seven silver and seven bronze.
The 13 Gold meetings are spread between six countries. After Sunday’s Cross Internacional Zornotza, the Gold-level action heads to Great Britain, Italy, France, Kenya and Belgium, with frequent return stops in Spain.
The Sirikwa Classic in Eldoret on 14 February is the final Gold meeting of the season, while the series draws to a close with the White Cross fixture in Belgrade on 14 March.
2025-2026 World Cross Country Tour Gold calendar
19 Oct: Cross Internacional Zornotza – Amorebieta-Etxano (ESP)
8 Nov: Cardiff Cross Challenge – Cardiff (GBR)
9 Nov: Cross Internacional de Italica – Seville (ESP)
16 Nov: Campo a Traves Internacional de Soria – Soria (ESP)
23 Nov: Cinque Mulini – San Vittore Olona (ITA)
23 Nov: Cross Internacional de Atapuerca – Atapuerca (ESP)
23 Nov: Cross International Le Maine Libre-Allonnes-Sarthe – Allonnes (FRA)
30 Nov: Alcobendas-Comunidad de Madrid – Alcobendas (ESP)
6 Dec: Chepsaita Cross County Tour Gold – Eldoret (KEN)
18 Jan: Elgoibar Cross Country Juan Muguerza Memorial – Elgoibar (ESP)
25 Jan: Campaccio International Cross Country – San Giorgio su Legnano (ITA)
25 Jan: Cross Cup de Hannut – Hannut (BEL)
14 Feb: Sirikwa Classic Continental Tour Gold – Eldoret (KEN)
