World cross-country champion Beatrice Chebet lived up to her status by capturing a commanding win at the Cross Internacional Juan Muguerza – a World Athletics Cross Country Tour Gold meeting – in the Spanish town of Elgoibar on Sunday 7th January 2024. The rain created a muddy surface and led to gruelling conditions, but Chebet managed to pull away in the closing stages to secure her first win of the season.
Kenya shines during World Athletics awards.
The newly crowned world 5000m record-holder Chebet took command of the women’s race from the start and covered the opening lap on the track in just 1:18. At the begining of the race chebet faced stiff competition from compatriots Edinah Jebitok and Grace Nawowuna plus Ethiopia’s Asmarech Anley. British trio Lauren Hall, Sarah Astin and Niamh Brown were three seconds behind while Spain’s Irene Sánchez-Escribano, Carolina Robles and Isabel Barreiro ran another couple of seconds adrift.
Chebet’s relentless pace soon paid off and Anley could not live with that pace, leaving the Kenyan contingent as a lead trio out in front. Chebet gradually increased her speed and clocked 7:02 for the penultimate lap, but 2021 Elgoibar winner Jebitok and Nawowuna still remained at her shoulder.
Just before the bell, Nawowuna briefly took the lead, but Chebet soon regained pole position. A struggling Anley, meanwhile, was overtaken on the last lap by the leading British and Spanish runners. The key move came with one kilometre remaining when Chebet broke away from her compatriots to cover the final lap in 6:54, securing her first victory in Elgoibar clocking in a time of 26:08 in what was her third appearance.
In the men’s category (9.7km), Ethiopia’s Berihu Aregawi emerged victorious in a time of 30:30 while Kenyans favourite Ishmael Kipkurui finished 4th with a time of 30:37. Below are the leading results from the race.
Women (7.6km)
1 Beatrice Chebet (KEN) 26:08
2 Edinah Jebitok (KEN) 26:10
3 Grace Nawowuna (KEN) 26:25
4 Niamh Brown (GBR) 27:55
5 Sarah Astin (GBR) 28:06
6 Lauren Hall (GBR) 28:12
7 Carolina Robles (ESP) 28:26
8 Isabel Barreiro (ESP) 28:32
9 Irene Sánchez-Escribano (ESP) 28:32
10 Asmarech Anley (ETH) 28:44
Men (9.7km)
1 Berihu Aregawi (ETH) 30:30
2 Rodrigue Kwizera (BDI) 30:34
3 Soufiane El Bakkali (MAR) 30:36
4 Ishmael Kipkurui (KEN) 30:37
5 Adel Mechaal (ESP) 30:43
6 Nassim Hassaous (ESP) 31:22
7 Daniel Arce (ESP) 31:33
8 Abderrahmane Aferdi (MAR) 31:38
9 David Bascunana (ESP) 32:20
10 Mario Mola (ESP) 32:22