Jebitok, Kwizera rule in Venta de Banos

Olympian Edinah Jebitok and Burundi’s Rodrigue Kwizera grabbed respective women’s and men’s race victories at the 41st Cross Internacional de Venta de Banos, the seventh Gold level meeting of this season’s World Athletics Cross Country Tour, on Sunday 19 December. 

Following the last-minute withdrawal of Kenya’s Eva Cherono, the role of favourite in the women’s event turned to her compatriot Jebitok. The contest opened at a moderate pace, with Spain’s Carla Gallardo, Blanca Fernandez and Laura Luengo taking on the pacing duties, while 20-year-old Jebitok and Ethiopia’s Likina Amebaw ran comfortably in the middle of the still large front group. 

Some nine minutes into the race, the Kenyan decided to push a brisker pace and none of her rivals tried to follow in her footsteps. The 1500m specialist created a wide margin on Amebaw in a matter of a few strides and before midway, it became clear that she would be the eventual winner on her first appearance on Spanish soil. 

After a 7:08 penultimate lap, 12 seconds faster than the previous one, Jebitok went through the bell a massive 38 seconds ahead of Amebaw, herself a full minute clear of a quartet featuring the Spanish trio of Luengo, Fernandez and Beatriz Alvarez plus Turkey’s Emine Mechaal in what promised to be a stiff fight for the third place on the podium. 

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Despite her huge advantage, Jebitok never slowed and even strengthened her position over the final circuit as she ran home 69 seconds ahead of Amebaw, who was a comfortable runner-up. 

Attention then moved to the battle for third place, with Luengo pushing hard throughout the closing lap, trying to leave the others behind. She partially managed her goal as first Alvarez and then Fernandez lost contact, but Mechaal held off the Spaniard’s challenge and overtook her in the final stages to finish third, a full minute behind Amebaw. 

Competing in nice weather conditions in the small Spanish village, Kwizera faced strong opposition from Ethiopia’s Nibret Melak but maintained his winning streak this winter campaign.

Women

1 Edinah Jebitok (KEN) 28:44

2 Likina Amebaw Ayel (ETH) 29:53

3 Emine Mechaal (TUR) 30:53

4 Laura Luengo (ESP) 30:55

5 Blanca Fernandez (ESP) 31:00

6 Beatriz Alvarez (ESP) 31:09

7 Carla Gallardo (ESP) 31:12

8 Isabel Barreiro (ESP) 31:23

9 Teresa Urbina (ESP) 31:24

10 Irene Pelayo (ESP) 32:25

Men

1 Rodrigue Kwizera (BUR) 32:30

2 Nibret Melak (ETH) 32:37

3 Albert Chemutai (UGA) 33:04

4 Merhawi Mebrahtu (ERI) 33:21

5 Carlos Mayo (ESP) 33:40

6 Nassim Hassaous (ESP) 33:55

7 Adel Mechaal (ESP) 33:56

8 Thierry Ndikumwenayo (BUR) 34:02

9 David Bascunana (ESP) 34:02

10 Aaron Las Heras (ESP) 34:06