Likina Amebaw wins the Cross de Italica (© Diputación de Sevilla)
Spain’s Rodrigue Kwizera and Ethiopia’s Likina Amebaw claimed victory at the Cross Internacional de Itálica, the third Gold-level meeting of this season’s World Athletics Cross Country Tour, held in Santiponce on the outskirts of Seville on Sunday (8).
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.
The men’s 9.55km race began with Spanish steeplechaser Dani Arce leading alongside compatriots Juan Antonio Pérez 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.
The pace remained steady during the second lap, covered in 7:08, before Uganda’s 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.
Kenya’s Charles Kiboino then increased the tempo, covering the third lap in 6:44. Aregawi began to lose ground, as did Kenya’s Denis Kipkemoi and Spanish duo Chazarra and Thierry Ndikumwenayo.
With the clock reading 19:45, only Kwizera and Kenya’s world U20 cross-country and 5000m champion Frankline Kibet could stay with Kiboino.
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.
Kwizera crossed the line in 27:37, one second ahead of Kiboino, with Kibet another second behind in third.
“The circuit had some minor changes, but they made it tougher,” said Kwizera, who has won the World Athletics Cross Country Tour for the past four seasons. “The young Kenyans pushed me to the limit, but I knew the circuit and was confident in my finishing speed.
“After so many years competing as a foreigner in Spain, this first victory as a Spaniard means a lot to me and my coach Lluís Torlà.”
Amebaw strikes on final lap
The women’s 9.55km race was initially led by Uganda’s world U20 5000m champion Charity Cherop, followed closely by Amebaw, Ethiopia’s Yenenesh Shimket, Kenyans Maurine Chebor and Cynthia Chepkurui, and Burundi’s Francine Niyomukunzi.
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.
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.
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.
The Ethiopian, who is based in Peguerinos in the Spanish province of Ávila, maintained her advantage throughout the final lap to win in 30:41, eight seconds ahead of Cherop. Chepkurui completed the podium in 30:57.
Further back, the Netherlands’ Amina Maatoug finished seventh to take the honours as the leading European, 33 seconds ahead of Spain’s Carolina Robles in eighth.
“I’m especially happy because this is my first win here,” said Amebaw. “I’m 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.”
Emeterio Valiente for World Athletics
Leading results
Men (9.55km)
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
Women (9.55km)
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 María Forero (ESP) 33:16
10 Elena Burkard (GER) 33:21
