Mirriam Cherop wins in Albufeira (© European Athletics)
Rodrigue Kwizera successfully defended his title – and that of his club – to win at the Cross Internacional das Amendoeiras em Flor, the penultimate World Athletics Cross Country Tour Gold meeting of the season, in Albufeira on Sunday (8).
The Burundian, competing in the colours of Playas Castellon as the event once again doubled as the European Champion Clubs Cup Cross Country, was a comfortable winner of the senior men’s race, while Kenya’s Mirriam Cherop produced an equally decisive victory in the women’s contest. Both senior races were held over 9.28km on the Algarve course.
A large lead pack formed early in the men’s race, covering the opening lap in 5:52 with Kwizera prominent alongside Kenya’s Charles Rotich and Uganda’s Oscar Chelimo. The pace remained steady through the second lap (11:20), but the front group began to thin as the leading trio continued to dictate proceedings.
By the end of the third lap (16:46), the contenders had been reduced to five athletes: Kwizera, Chelimo, Rotich, Kenya’s Victor Kimosop and Spain’s European cross-country champion Thierry Ndikumwenayo. The decisive move began to take shape shortly after the 6km mark when Kwizera and Chelimo broke clear of the others.
They reached the lap-four checkpoint in 22:02, holding an eight-second advantage over Kimosop and Rotich. Chelimo stayed close to Kwizera through the latter stages, but the defending champion found another gear inside the final kilometre to secure his third victory in Albufeira in 27:19.
Chelimo followed 10 seconds later in 27:29, with Rotich completing the podium in 27:32 after winning the battle for third.
The team standings reflected the individual outcome with Playas Castellon – led by Kwizera – winning gold ahead of Chelimo’s ATL Casone.
The women’s race also began with a sizeable lead group, covering the first lap in 6:50 with Cherop and Jackline Rotich setting the early tempo. Burundi’s Elvanie Nimbona remained well positioned, while Portugal’s Carolina Robles and Great Britain’s Lucy Jones were also part of the early contention.
By lap two (13:09), the lead group had reduced to nine athletes, with Cherop, Rotich, Nimbona and Robles still prominent. The race continued to stretch out on the third lap (19:27), the leading quartet gradually asserting control. The same four athletes remained at the front at the end of lap four (25:43).
Cherop made the decisive move at about the 8km mark. Rotich initially attempted to respond, but Nimbona and Campos were unable to maintain contact as the Kenyan surged clear.
Cherop went on to win convincingly in 31:36, becoming the first Kenyan winner in Albufeira since 2020. Rotich secured second place in 31:50, just ahead of Nimbona (31:52), while Robles finished fourth in 32:01.
In the team standings, SC Braga retained their title ahead of Fenerbahce.
Leading results
Women (9.28km)
1 Mirriam Cherop (KEN) 31:36
2 Jackline Rotich (KEN) 31:50
3 Elvanie Nimbona (BDI) 31:52
4 Carolina Robles (ESP) 32:01
5 Idaira Prieto (ESP) 32:10
6 Mariana Machado (POR) 32:17
7 Sümeyye Erol (TUR) 32:26
8 Derya Kunur (TUR) 32:30
Men (9.28km)
1 Rodrigue Kwizera (BDI) 27:19
2 Oscar Chelimo (UGA) 27:29
3 Charles Rotich (KEN) 27:32
4 Victor Kimosop (KEN) 27:42
5 Thierry Ndikumwenayo (ESP) 27:45
6 Abdessamad Oukhelfen (ESP) 27:48
7 Miguel Angel Martínez (ESP) 27:51
8 Luca Alfieri (ITA) 28:23
