Berihu Aregawi wins in Elgoibar (© Félix Sánchez (Fotorunners))
Bahrain’s Olympic steeplechase champion Winfred Yavi and Ethiopia’s Olympic 10,000m silver medallist Berihu Aregawi will be the standout athletes at the Cross Internacional Juan Muguerza – the 11th World Athletics Cross Country Tour Gold meeting of the season – in the Spanish town of Elgoibar on Sunday (18).
Yavi is the overwhelming favourite in the women’s 7.62km contest. The 26-year-old placed third here three years ago and will be keen to go one better this time. The 2023 world steeplechase champion has been in fine form, claiming a commanding victory in Seville in November. Later that month, she completed a steeplechase and 5000m double at the Islamic Games in Riyadh.
Her strongest challenge should come from Sheila Jebet. The 20-year-old Kenyan has shown excellent consistency in her four European appearances this season. The 2024 world U20 5000m fifth-place finisher opened her campaign with second-place finishes in Cardiff and Soria, followed by another runner-up finish in Atapuerca before placing third in Alcobendas against strong opposition.
Tunisia’s Marwa Bouzayani is another athlete to watch. She placed fourth in the steeplechase at last year’s World Championships with a lifetime best of 9:01.46, finishing just behind Yavi. On New Year’s Eve, the 28-year-old finished second at a cross-country meeting in the Dutch town of Soest, beaten only by Belgium’s Jana Van Lent.
The domestic contingent will be led by European U23 steeplechase silver medallist Marta Serrano. The rising Spaniard finished sixth in the U23 race at the European Cross Country Championships in Lagoa last month. She will be joined by Isabel Barreiro, who ran a 10km PB of 31:31 last weekend in Valencia, Angela Viciosa, who finished 18th in Lagoa, and Irene Sanchez-Escribano. The 33-year-old returns to competition after becoming a mother last year and owns a steeplechase PB of 9:10.43, set when placing 11th in the 2024 Olympic final.
The men’s 9.7km race also boasts a mouth-watering line-up, headed by Berihu Aregawi, who last week in Tallahassee secured a third consecutive silver at the World Cross Country Championships.
Aregawi claimed back-to-back victories in Elgoibar in 2024 and 2025, defeating Rodrigue Kwizera on both occasions. With the Burundian absent this weekend, Aregawi’s main rival may be Kwizera’s training partner Thierry Ndikumwenayo. The Spaniard won the European cross-country title in December then placed a creditable eighth in Tallahassee, his best ever finish at the World Cross.
Eritrea’s Saymon Amanuel is also a potential contender. The 18-year-old won the Cinque Mulini in November, one week before finishing second in Alcobendas. He has PBs of 13:01.85 for 5000m and 27:10 for 10km and could compete for another podium place alongside Matthew Kipkoech Kipruto. The 25-year-old Kenyan finished second in Soria before again placing runner-up in San Vittore Olona behind Amanuel. Kipruto recorded the biggest victory of his career last month, winning at the Chepsaita Cross Country in Eldoret.
Alongside Ndikumwenayo, the Spanish challenge also includes Aaron Las Heras, ninth at the European Cross Country Championships, Spanish half marathon record-holder Carlos Mayo, and Nassim Hassaous, fresh from a fifth-place finish at the San Silvestre Vallecana on New Year’s Eve.
In total, 26 world cross-country champions and 15 Olympic gold medallists have competed in Elgoibar over the years. Such is the depth of quality that even greats like Haile Gebrselassie, Selemon Barega and Linet Masai were unable to claim victory here.
In addition to the senior elite races, strong U20 competitions will feature athletes from Great Britain, Belgium, France, Germany and Spain, all vying for the Mamo Wolde Trophy. The award was created in 2003 in memory of Ethiopia’s legendary Olympic marathon champion, who is fondly remembered in Elgoibar after winning here in 1963, 1964, 1967 and 1968.
Weather forecasts suggest a cloudy day, with temperatures of 8–10C at race time and a 75% chance of rain.
Emeterio Valiente for World Athletics
