Mathew Kipsang wins in Soria (© Organisers)
Kenya’s Mathew Kipsang and Ethiopia’s Likina Amebaw claimed victory at the Cross Internacional de Soria – the fourth Gold-level meeting of this season’s World Athletics Cross Country Tour – held in the Spanish city of Soria on a sunny but windy Sunday (16).
Amebaw dominated the women’s race, while world 5000m finalist Kipsang denied pre-race favourite Rodrigue Kwizera a fourth Soria victory after a dramatic final sprint.
The women’s 8km began at a crawl: the opening 2km lap took 7:20 with Italy’s Valentina Gemetto, Kenya’s Sheila Jebet and Amebaw sharing the lead. Spain’s Idaira Prieto briefly pushed to the front, but the pace barely lifted, the second lap clocking 7:11. About 200m into the third circuit, Amebaw finally injected real purpose, and only the 20-year-old Jebet could respond. A few seconds back ran Kenya’s Noshin Kimuge, followed by Gemetto, Prieto and Spain’s María Ureña.
Amebaw’s surge produced a 6:20 third loop, though Jebet held firm until about a mile from home, when the young Kenyan finally began to fade. Amebaw pressed on alone, covering the final lap in 6:14 and finishing unchallenged in 27:25, 30 seconds clear of Jebet.
Behind them, Gemetto and Prieto caught Kimuge before the bell. The Italian then broke away with little more than a kilometre left, and Prieto soon distanced Kimuge to claim fourth.
“Soria is my favourite cross-country race, so I’m very pleased to take my second victory here,” said Amebaw. “Itálica was very tough and recovery hasn’t been easy, so I started conservatively. When I kicked, I was surprised Jebet stayed with me so long, but fortunately she couldn’t follow on the last lap. The circuit is very similar to where I train, so I feel comfortable here.”
The men’s 8km unfolded very differently. Kwizera set a brisk early pace, leading through the first 2km lap in 5:47 ahead of Spain’s Thierry Ndikumwenayo and Ilias Fifa, plus Kenyans Kipsang, Matthew Kipkoech Kipruto, Naibei Kiplimo Mayebei and Edwin Kiplangat Bett.
Midway through the second lap, world U20 cross-country bronze medallist Kipruto surged to the front, with Kwizera on his shoulder. The 5:52 lap trimmed the lead pack to Kipruto, Kwizera, Kipsang and Ndikumwenayo. The third lap, in 5:46, saw the four strung out in single file behind the still-leading Kipruto.
Inside the final 500m, three-time Soria champion Kwizera kicked hard. Kipruto and Ndikumwenayo lost ground, but Kipsang refused to budge. Kwizera still led with 200m remaining, yet Kipsang — despite slipping slightly on the downhill before the home straight — unleashed the superior track speed that carried him to a 7:33.23 PB for 3000m earlier this year. He swept past in the final metres to win by a single second, 23:10 to 23:11. Kipruto held off Ndikumwenayo for third.
“I’m doubly happy,” said Kipsang. “It’s my birthday and I’ve won. I was third here last year, but my victory in Cardiff last weekend gave me confidence. I didn’t want to set the pace; I saved everything for the finish and it paid off.”
Emeterio Valiente for World Athletics
Leading results
Women (8km)
1 Likina Amebaw (ETH) 27:25
2 Sheila Jebet (KEN) 27:55
3 Valentina Gemetto (ITA) 28:11
4 Idaira Prieto (KEN) 28:19
5 Noshin Mandoi Kimuge (KEN) 28:33
6 María Ureña (ESP) 28:54
Men (8km)
1 Mathew Kipchumba Kipsang (KEN) 23:10
2 Rodrigue Kwizera (BDI) 23:11
3 Matthew Kipkpoech Kipruto (KEN) 23:13
4 Thierry Ndikumwenayo (ESP) 23:13
5 Naibei Kiplimo Mayebei (KEN) 23:45
6 Ilias Fifa (ESP) 23:47
