Likina Amebaw wins at the Cross Internacional Zornotza (© De Pedro Fotógrafos)
Ethiopia's Likina Amebaw and Burundi's Egide Ntakarutimana impressed at the Cross Internacional Zornotza – the second Gold-level meeting of this season’s World Athletics Cross Country Tour – as they claimed overwhelming victories in Amorebieta on Sunday (18).
On a sunny and mild day, the women’s 8.7km contest witnessed the early lead of Eritrea’s Rahel Daniel, the 2022 world 10,000m fifth-place finisher, but she was easily followed by the Kenyan duo of Dorcus Chepkwemoi and Mirriam Cherop, Burundi’s Francine Niyomukunzi and the favourite Amebaw, who remained at the back of the pack in the early stages.
Following the first big loop covered in 6:58, Daniel began to lose ground as Niyomukunzi moved to the front to pick up the pace. During the second 2.1km circuit, with 12:30 on the clock, it was Amebaw who made a big statement as she unleashed a terrific change of speed to build a huge margin in a matter of a few hundred metres. The recent Ultimate 5000m champion clocked a swift 6:24 split for that loop to open a sizeable gap of 24 seconds on Chepkwemoi, Cherop and Niyomukunzi.
Amebaw maintained her cadence over the penultimate lap as it only took her 6:28 to extend her lead to a massive 36 seconds on the chasing trio. During the closing circuit, Chepkwemoi ceded ground when Cherop tried to break away from Niyomukunzi. A final 6:35 lap led the new world 5km champion Amebaw to a comfortable victory, her third in Amorebieta after her 2023 and 2025 wins. The 28-year-old finished 31 seconds clear of Niyomukunzi, who managed to leave world mile bronze medallist Cherop behind over the closing 400 metres.
“I’m so happy as it was my first competition as a world champion and I managed to triumph for the third time,” said Amebaw. “I love the Amorebieta cross country, I know the circuit and how to move strategically. Today I decided to stay in the group for almost the first half before setting my own rhythm. I now look forward to the next cross-country competitions.”
Unlike the women’s event, the 8.7km men’s contest kicked off at a frantic pace set by pre-race favourite Ntakarutimana. The Burundian ran the opening 500 metres in 1:17 to lose his rivals and the 28-year-old covered the opening kilometre in 2:37 to decide the race in his favour.
Egide Ntakarutimana at the Cross Internacional Zornotza (© De Pedro Fotógrafos)
The lonesome leader continued to cover the opening big lap in 5:44 to build a 22-second advantage over a quartet featuring his compatriot Elie Sindayikengdera, Kenya’s Peter Rono and the Spanish pair of Daniel Arce and Sergio Paniagua.
Ntakarutimana’s second lap was timed at 5:56 as he maintained a clear margin over his chasers, with Rono, Sindayikengdera and Paniagua running in single file, while Arce was dropped from the pack. Ntakarutimana’s relentless pace continued over the penultimate lap which took him 5:59. At the bell, runner-up Rono travelled 23 seconds in arrears, three seconds clear of Sindayikengdera and five ahead of Paniagua, who caught the Burundian with a kilometre remaining.
Following another brisk 5:54 circuit, Ntakarutimana crossed the finish line well clear of his compatriot, who was able to overtake Rono over the long final straight, while Paniagua had to settle for fourth.
“I decided to begin fast because I felt a lot of energy today,” said Ntakarutimana who placed sixth two years ago in his only other appearance in Amorebieta. “I realised none of my rivals ran close to me but I kept my rhythm as the fans cheered on me throughout. I hope to come back next year.”
Emeterio Valiente for World Athletics
Leading results
Women (8.7km)
1 Likina Amebaw (ETH) 28:41
2 Francine Niyomukunzi (BDI) 29:12
3 Mirriam Cherop (KEN) 29:17
4 Dorcus Chepkwemoi (KEN) 29:58
5 Rahel Daniel (ERI) 31:21
6 Carla Arce (ESP) 31:26
7 Irene Pelayo (ESP) 31:41
8 Ana Marinho (POR) 31:46
Men (8.7km)
1 Egide Ntakarutimana (BDI) 25:18
2 Elie Sindayikengdera (BDI) 25:48
3 Peter Rono (KEN) 25:53
4 Sergio Paniagua (ESP) 25:53
5 Abdessamad Oukhelfen (ESP) 26:10
6 David de la Fuente (ESP) 26:17
7 Yahya Aouina (ESP) 26:28
8 Jaime Migallón (ESP) 26:37
