Limo and Denboba out-sprint rivals in Soria

Soria, SpainKenya’s 1999 World Cross Country (short race) champion Benjamin Limo grabbed a thrilling sprint victory in the ‘10th Cross Internacional de Soria’ – EAA Permit – held today.

The Eldoret-based athlete won by such a narrow margin that his fellow countryman Thomas Kiplitany was given the same time at the end, while Tanzania’s Fabian Joseph was a close third, just two seconds adrift. Remarkably, no less than five different countries were represented among the first six places with Eritrea’s Zersenay Tadesse and José Rios of Spain completing a classy top five.

The race did not open particularly fast and by the second kilometre there still remained a large group of athletes with chances of winning. It was Joseph, runner-up at the recent IAAF World Half Marathon Championships and Kiplitany who made most of the early running, while the pre-race favourite Limo stayed in close attendance confident of his devastating final track speed.

Going through the fourth kilometre that trio broke away from the field and it became clear that, barring disaster, one of them would be the eventual winner as Tadesse and Ríos took turns 20m behind. By then, surprisingly, the Portuguese pair of Eduardo Henriques and four-time European champion Paulo Guerra were running outside the first fifteen places, as once again Europe’s athletes were unable to match African strength on the cross country.

There were no remarkable changes over the final 2000m two laps, and the crowd was very soon entertained by a fascinating three way fight for victory. The finish line was looming closer and closer and nobody tried to storm away, why?

“I didn’t hear the bell and believed that there was one lap left so I was surprised when, after a bend, I was told that the finish line was just 50m away” explained Limo, who reacted the fastest under such confusing circumstances to finally take victory.

“It was cold and I was running my opening outing for this winter season so I didn’t know how well I was going to perform. I’m training now on a 160kms per week basis and my primary goal in the near future is the Worlds Cross Country Championships in Brussels where I hope to better my bronze medal from last year’s edition,” confirmed Limo.

Denboba supreme in tight clash with Kenyans

Ethiopia’s Merima Denboba clinched her second win in a row on European soil following her victory at the IAAF race in Oeiras last Sunday. But it was not an easy task for Denboba as she had to beat a four-member Kenyan contingent headed by Ayabei Chepkorir.

Early in the race, it was first Magdaline Chemjor and then 1997 World 10,000m champion Sally Barsosio who tried to leave the Ethiopian behind but to no avail and by the 2nd kiometre point the race became a clash between Denboba, Chepkorir and Barsosio as Chemjor and Maranga, who placed fifth at the Worlds in Paris over 1500m, lost ground gradually. 

With 12 minutes on the clock Barsosio could not live with the pace set by Chepkorir, and the race turned in a face to face Chepkorir and Denboba, the latter staying all the way at the Kenyan’s shoulder with ease.

So, the race was decided in the last lap and with 200m to go Denboba put in a big effort to which Jepkorir could not respond, the winning time being 20:44 and only one second covering the first two at the tape.

Barsosio ran alone for the second part of the race and came a fine third 19 seconds behind Denboba but well ahead her compatriots Chemjor and Maranga.

“I didn’t expect to win today because everyone wants to do it and I can’t win every race,” said Denboba. "I’m happy with my second win this year and I’ll run next in Llodio on Sunday (30 November). I have some problems with my right knee and need treatment. I’ll spend this week in Italy before coming back to Spain” concluded the winner.

Emeterio Valiente for the IAAF

Men (9000m course)
1 Benjamin Limo (KEN) 27:35
2 Thomas Kiplitany (KEN) 27:35
3 Fabian Joseph (TAN) 27:37
4 Tadese Zersenay (ERI) 27:47
5 José Ríos (ESP) 27:53
6 Iván Hierro (ESP) 27:55
7 Fabián Roncero (ESP) 28:07
8 Bernard Kipyego (KEN) 28:07
9 Paulo Guerra (POR) 28:13
10 Alejandro Gómez (ESP) 28:26

Women (6000m course)
1 Merima Demboba (ETH) 20:44 
2 Ayebey Chepkorir (KEN) 20:45
3 Sally Barsosio (KEN) 21:03
4 Magdeleine Chemjor (KEN) 21:34
5 Jackline Maranga (KEN) 21:38
6 Jacqueline Martín 21:49 
7 Nebiat Habtemariam (ERI) 22:01
8 Dolores Pulido 22:01
9 Zulema Fuentes-Pila 22:03
10 Laura Pinela 22:03