APA-Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) Ethiopia’s Likina Amebaw won gold event winner of this season’s World Athletics Cross Country Tour, claiming victories at the Cross International Zornotza on Sunday.
While Amebaw outsprinted her compatriot Lemlem Nibret during the closing stages of the women’s race, Ndikumana was a commanding men’s race winner on a pleasant day in Amorebieta, Spain.
Right from the start of the 8700m women’s event it was Mawia, the 2022/2023 Cross Country Tour winner, who took control, closely followed by the Ethiopian duo of Nibret and Amebaw. Alessia Zarbo of France ran alone in fourth, well ahead of the large chasing group.
The leading trio covered the opening 2000m lap in 6:49 and the second circuit in 6:55, with Nibret briefly moving to the front by the third kilometer.
At halfway, the leaders had built a margin of 21 seconds on Zarbo, who in turn was well clear of the top Spaniards. Over the penultimate loop, Mawia and Nibret took turns at the helm, while the Spain-based Amebaw remained tucked behind that tandem.
Nibret then clocked the fastest split of the race to that point, a 3:19 sixth kilometer, and shortly after the bell she picked up the pace dramatically to leave Mawia well behind, while Amebaw managed to join her with relative ease.
Nibret pushed hard over the final loop but Amebaw did not relinquish and the Ethiopian pair engaged in a thrilling sprint finish, much to the delight of the crowd.
Taking advantage of a hilly section some 200m from home, Amebaw broke away from her younger compatriot – who finished fifth in the U20 race at the World Cross Country Championships in Bathurst – to win in 29:36 to Nibret’s 29:38.
Mawia completed the podium another 25 seconds adrift but well clear of Zarbo, who finished fourth just over a minute behind the Kenyan.
MG/abj/APA