Yavi denies Jebet at Cross Internacional Juan Muguerza as Aregawi bags men's title
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Reading Time: 3min | Mon. 19.01.26. | 13:02
avi controlled the 7.62 km women’s race from the start, completing the opening lap in 1:15 with Jebet and Tunisia’s Marwa Bouzayani closely tracking her
Kenya’s Sheila Jebet put in an impressive performance to finish second in the women’s race at the Cross Internacional Juan Muguerza, a World Athletics Cross Country Tour Gold meeting, in Elgoibar, Spain, on Sunday.
The race was won by Bahrain’s Olympic 3000m steeplechase champion Winfred Yavi, while Ethiopia’s Olympic 10,000 m silver medalist Berihu Aregawi extended his winning streak to three in the men’s race.
Yavi controlled the 7.62 km women’s race from the start, completing the opening lap in 1:15 with Jebet and Tunisia’s Marwa Bouzayani closely tracking her.
The chasing pack, led by Britain’s Lucy Jones and Kate O’Neill and Spain’s Isabel Barreiro and Angela Viciosa, was three seconds behind.
By 2.1 km, Bouzayani began to drop back, and Yavi broke away from Jebet before the third kilometre.
She completed the first big lap in 6:55, building a five-second lead over Jebet, while the 20-year-old Kenyan ran 15 seconds ahead of Bouzayani.
On the penultimate 2.2 km lap, Yavi extended her advantage to 26 seconds over Jebet and 52 seconds over Bouzayani after another brisk 6:57 circuit.
She maintained her pace on the final lap (6:56), crossing the finish line unchallenged in 25:23, 1:06 ahead of Jebet, with Bouzayani securing third in 26:49.
Spain’s Barreiro narrowly beat Britain’s Jones by one second to claim top European honours.
“I am delighted,” said Yavi. “In Elgoibar, the people are so welcoming, and I felt well prepared both physically and mentally. It is a great success to win here after finishing third some years ago. I will next compete at the World Military Cross Country Championships in Trikala, Greece, at the end of February.”
The men’s 9.71 km race began with a moment of silence in memory of Great Britain’s Lachie Stewart, a three-time Elgoibar winner and 1970 Commonwealth 10,000 m champion.
The early pace was steady, led by Spain’s Nassim Hassaous and Britain’s Edward Buck, with favorites Aregawi, Thierry Ndikumwenayo, and Saymon Amanuel close behind.
The pace quickened nine minutes in when Said Mechaal, fresh from a Spanish 10km record, injected speed.
Eritrea’s Amanuel moved to the front midway, followed by Aregawi and Ndikumwenayo.
Aregawi made a decisive move 22 minutes in, dropping Amanuel with a 6:12 lap and building a 20-second gap over the chasing pack.
He maintained control over the final lap, finishing seven seconds ahead of Amanuel in 29:33, while Mechaal powered home for third in 30:09, followed by Ndikumwenayo and Uruguay’s Santiago Catrofe.
“Today’s win is my third consecutive here, which makes me very happy,” said Aregawi, joining Spain’s Mariano Haro as only the second man to win three straight titles in Elgoibar. “The circuit is tough, but I know how to manage it.”
Leading results
Women (7.62km)
1 Winfred Yavi (BRN) – 25:23
2 Sheila Jebet (KEN) – 26:29
3 Marwa Bouzayani (TUN) – 26:49
4 Isabel Barreiro (ESP) – 27:07
5 Lucy Jones (GBR) – 27:08
6 Angela Viciosa (ESP) – 27:29
7 Andrea Romero (ESP) – 27:50
8 Kate O’Neill (GBR) – 27:50
9 Marta Serrano (ESP) – 28:00
10 Rosalia Tarraga (ESP) – 28:09
Men (9.71km)
1 Berihu Aregawi (ETH) – 29:33
2 Saymon Amanuel (ERI) – 29:40
3 Said Mechaal (ESP) – 30:09
4 Thierry Ndikumwenayo (BUR) – 30:12
5 Santiago Catrofe (URU) – 30:15
6 Nassim Hassaous (ESP) – 30:32
7 Yahya Aouina (ESP) – 30:35
8 Javier Guerra (ESP) – 30:39
9 Carlos Mayo (ESP) – 30:44
10 Mesfin Escamilla (ESP) – 30:54
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