Rogers Kibet wins at the Cross Cup de Hannut (© AFP / Getty Images)
Uganda’s Rogers Kibet and Kenya’s Sheila Jebet were clear winners at the Cross Cup de Hannut, a World Athletics Cross Country Tour Gold meeting, on Sunday (26).
Kibet went one better than his runner-up finish in Hannut in 2022, claiming a dominant victory in the men’s race ahead of Burundi’s Celestin Ndikumana and Kenya’s Gideon Rono.
Jebet turned the tables on Ethiopia’s Yenenesh Shimket and Uganda’s Charity Cherop in the women’s race, claiming the top spot after finishing second to Shimket at the Cinque Mulini and Cherop in Cardiff in November.
Kibet made his presence felt early on in the men’s race. He was among the early leaders and was to the fore as they completed the first of the six loops.
He strung the lead group out during the second lap and made a decisive move on the third loop, kicking away to leave Ndikumana and Rono among his chasers.
Kibet continued to move away on the slippery muddy course and led ahead of Ndikumana, Rono and Belgium’s Robin Hendrix with two laps to go.
While the top two spots looked decided, Rono and Hendrix were locked in battle for a place alongside them on the podium. As Kibet strode away to victory and Ndikumana followed, Rono finished strongly to clinch third place ahead of Hendrix and his Belgium compatriot Nicolai Sake, who slid on his stomach over the finish line.
Kibet won his season opener in 27:03, 20 seconds ahead of Ndikumana who claimed another runner-up finish after placing second at the Campaccio on 6 January. Rono was third, a further six seconds back.
In the women’s race it was Belgium’s Roxane Cleppe who took an early lead and she was followed by her compatriot Chloe Herbiet and a group featuring Jebet and Shimket near the front.
Jebet, who finished fourth in the U20 race at the World Cross Country Championships last year, then led an attack and held the lead by the end of the second lap. Shimket was the only one who managed to go with her and they were followed by her fellow 17-year-old Cherop, Kenya’s Glorious Jepkirui and Cleppe.
Jebet and Shimket were well away by the fourth loop but Jepkirui’s race came to an end as she pulled up after appearing to lose a shoe.
Jebet looked comfortable as she moved away from Shimket and the 19-year-old had a clear lead with one loop remaining. Jebet glanced over her shoulder but couldn’t sense any immediate danger and pushed on, eventually finishing six seconds clear.
Her winning time was 31:01 and she was followed by Shimket in 31:07 and Cherop in 31:22. Herbiet and Cleppe completed the top five.
Leading results
Women
1 Sheila Jebet (KEN) 31:01
2 Yenenesh Shimket (ETH) 31:07
3 Charity Cherop (UGA) 31:22
4 Chloe Herbiet (BEL) 31:38
5 Roxane Cleppe (BEL) 31:41
Men
1 Rogers Kibet (UGA) 27:03
2 Celestin Ndikumana (BDI) 27:23
3 Gideon Rono (KEN) 27:29
4 Robin Hendrix (BEL) 27:41
5 Nicolai Sake (BEL) 27:44
