Abdullah Ahmad Hassan of Qatar (© Getty Images)
Soria, Spain Some of the international cross country crème has been assembled for the ‘12th Campo a través internacional de Soria’ - EAA Permit - meeting, which takes place this Sunday 20 November.
In the men’s 9km race it will be a battle between Qatar’s World Cross Country bronze medallist - long race - Abdullah Ahmad Hassan, his former Kenyan team-mate Boniface Songok (5000m PB of 12:55.85), Ethiopia’s Eshetu Gezhagne (13th at 2005 World XC) plus Eritrea’s Tesfayohannes Mesfen (20th at 2005 World XC) and Kidane Tadesse.
Fourth time lucky for Hassan?
Under his former identity of Kenya’s Albert Chepkurui, Hassan raced twice in Soria with a fifth place (2001) and a third spot (2002) to his credit. In new colours he improved to the runners-up position last year behind Eritrean Zersenay Tadesse. Unfortunately for the local crowd, there won’t be a remake of their 2004 clash as the Olympic 10,000m bronze medallist has opted instead for the Nijmegen 15km race, in The Netherlands, this Sunday.
So trying to deny Hassan top spot in Soria on this occasion will be Zersenay’s younger brother, Kidane Tadesse. Still 18, he took to athletics barely two years ago and placed 16th at last March in the World Cross Country junior race with less than 12 months of serious training behind him. Tadesse jr. is in great form as he proved last Sunday by winning a 5.5 km road race in Toledo (Spain).
Spanish trials for Tilburg
The usually powerful Spanish cross country contingent comprising reigning European 5000m champion Alberto García, fresh from a second place to Eritrea’s Yonas Kifle in Torredonjimeno (Spain) last Sunday (27:44 versus 28:01). The in-form Spaniard will compete for the third week in a row looking for a berth in the Spanish team at the European Cross Country Championships to be held in Tilburg, The Netherlands (11 December 2005).
This Sunday’s race – along with Llodio XC IAAF Permit race on 27 November – will be decisive for the Spanish athletes to gain selection for Tilburg. Competing in Soria for the first time, the 34-year-old García has targeted a European medal this winter season. His fellow countrymen and international medallists José Ríos, Eliseo Martín, Antonio Jiménez and Jesús España plus Morocco’s Hicham Chatt should also be in the top ten.
WOMEN - Jepchumba versus Sultan
The women’s race will be held over 6km and will witness a likely battle between Kenya’s Rose Jepchumba and Eritrea’s Simret Sultan. The former placed ninth in the long race at the last World Cross, while the 21-year-old Madrid-based Sultan will be on show on Spanish soil for the third consecutive week following a second place behind Isabella Ochichi in Quintanar (6 November) and a fourth position in Torredonjimeno (13 November) two seconds adrift the winner Poland’s Justyna Bak.
Britain’s Liz Yelling alongside some of the leading local specialists will lead the European assault, while race organisers are still negotiating the presence of Portugal’s former (1996) Olympic 10,000m champion Fernanda Ribeiro.
Famous names
Among the illustrious winners in previous years in Soria are: Ethiopia’s 2000 Olympic 5000m champion Million Wolde (1997), Kenya’s 2001 World 10,000m champion Charles Kamathi (2002), and his compatriot Sally Barsosio who took the 10,000m gold medal at the 1997 Worlds in Athens.
Weather forecasters predict a partly cloudy and cold day with highs temperatures of 8º Celsius.
Emeterio Valiente for the IAAF
