Emile Hafashimana wins at the Cross Zornotza in Amorebieta (© Asociacion ADOC)
Ethiopia's Likina Amebaw and Burundi's Emile Hafashimana impressed at the Cross Internacional Zornotza – the first Gold level meeting of this season’s World Athletics Cross Country Tour – claiming victory on Sunday (19) on a cloudy and slightly rainy day.
While Amebaw was an overwhelming winner of the women’s race, Hafashimana held off a late challenge from Spain’s Nassim Hassaous to maintain the Burundian supremacy at the event for the fourth year in a row.
After a delayed start due to an incident in the mass participation race, the women’s 8.7km race started at a moderate pace, the opening kilometres timed at 3:34 and 3:39 with Portugal’s Mariana Machado making most of the pacing duties followed closely by Spain’s Majida Maayouf and Naima Ait Alibou. Pre-race favourite Amebaw was biding her time in the middle of the large lead group.
The pace increased on the second 2km lap as Maayouf and Amebaw led a seven-woman pack. With 3km to go, 27-year-old Amebaw unleashed a devastating change of tempo to open up a significant lead while Machado led the chase pack.
A 3:13 split for the seventh kilometre effectively sealed Amebaw’s victory. Further back, Machado had got rid of Ait Alibou, herself also clearly ahead of Angela Viciosa while Maayouf faded over the closing kilometres.
Following splits of 6:49 and 6:42 for the final two laps, Amebaw crossed the line in 30:21, finishing 21 seconds ahead of Machado with Ait Alibou completing the podium.
The Spain-based winner managed her second victory in Amorebieta after winning in 2023; she commented:
“After the long delay in the start, I thought the race was going to be cancelled, but fortunately we could finally compete,” said Amebaw, who won here in 2023. “During the early stages my body was cold and it made me uneasy so I decided to wait and see how the race developed, not taking any unnecessary risks. During the second part I felt much better and managed to set my own rhythm until the end.
“I’m very satisfied for my second win here in my season opener and look forward to this cross country season as the World Championships in January will be my next big goal,” added Amebaw, who intends to compete in Seville on 9 November.
Unlike the women’s contest, the men’s 8.7km race got off to a swift start by Burundi's Emile Hafashimana. Competing in Spain for the first time, the 20-year-old took early command of the race and covered the opening kilometre in 2:56 followed by his compatriots Elie Sindayikengdera and Thierry Irakoze plus the Spanish duo of Nassim Hassaous and Yahya Aouina.
After a brisk first lap of 5:38, Hafashimana had an eight-second margin on the chasing pack led by Sindayikengdera. That grew to 15 seconds at half way with the Burundian completing successive laps of 5:45 and 5:50 while Hassaous and Aouina managed to break free from the rest of the pack, moving into podium positions.
On a thrilling final lap, Hassaous – who finished seventh at last year’s European Cross Country Championships – started to make up ground on Hafashimana, much to the delight of the home crowd. At one point it looked as though the Spaniard would catch the long-time leader, but Hafashimana managed to resist Hassaous’ late attack to win by two seconds in 25:50. Aouina claimed third place in 26:03.
Emeterio Valiente for World Athletics
Leading results
Women (8.7km)
1 Likina Amebaw (ETH) 30:21
2 Mariana Machado (POR) 30:42
3 Naima Ait Alibou (ESP) 30:56
4 Angela Viciosa (ESP) 31:11
5 Majida Maayouf (ESP) 31:30
6 Ana Marinho (POR) 31:41
7 Irene Pelayo (ESP) 31:43
8 Clara Las Heras (ESP) 32:00
Men (8.7km)
1 Emile Hafashimana (BDI) 25:50
2 Nassim Hassaous (ESP) 25:52
3 Yahya Aouina (ESP) 26:03
4 Elie Sindayikengdera (BDI) 26:47
5 Thierry Irakoze (BDI) 26:55
6 Nick Jager (GER) 27:00
7 David de la Fuente (ESP) 27:06
8 Tom Hoogeboom (NED) 27:15
