Teyiba Erkesso of Ethiopia wins at the IRIS Lotto Cross Cup in Brussels (© Mark Shearman)
Teyiba Erkesso of Ethiopia will be looking for another victory on Belgian soil at Sunday’s (28) EAA Lotto Cross Cup in Hannut.
In December she was an impressive winner of the Brussels Cross Cup that was held on a very difficult course. The 24-year-old Ethiopian faces a tough challenge from Hungarian Aniko Kalovics and from the young Kenyan talent Florence Kiplagat, while the men’s race may well turn out as an Ethiopian duel between Tadesse Tola and Gebo Burka.
Akusei eager to shatter Ethiopian hopes – Men’s race
In 2006 Burka and Tola were surprisingly beaten by Kenyan Mike Kigen. Now Simon Akusei wants to write his name on the prestigious list of winners of the Hannut Cross Cup, and the Kenyan definitely has the credentials to do so. Akusei finished 10th in the 2006 IAAF World Cross Country Championships. With the 2007 edition to be held in Mombasa, the Armada of Kenyan cross country runners is very competitive.
Another interesting figure in Hannut is Andrea Lalli (ITA) who won the European U20 title early last month. Here he will test his form on the longer distance where Aziz Driouche (MAR), Vital Gahungu (BDI) and local favourite Pieter Desmet (BEL) are the other main contenders.
Erkesso the clear favourite - Women's race
Kiplagat won the silver medal at the junior race at last’s World Championships, and was the winner of the cross in Breda, putting the 20-year-old Kenyan among the leading young prospects in Kenyan athletics. With a tough battle between Erkesso and Kalovics on tap, Kiplagat’s stamina will be truly tested in Hannut. However, Erkesso will start as the clear favourite, while Zakia Mrisho Mohamed (TAN), Fionnuala Britton (IRL) and Nathalie De Vos (BEL) will try to keep in touch with the leaders as well.
Local eyes will be focused on steeplechaser Veerle Dejaeghere who has been running very confidently over the last weeks. The Belgian likes the fast course in Hannut, where conditions can be very windy indeed.
On each lap of the course two barriers are introduced. “We moved back to the roots of cross country running”, says organiser Jos Van Roy. “I was inspired by the course in Toro, where the European Cross Country Championships will be held in 2007. They are building barriers as well.”
Ivo Hendrix for the IAAF
