He International Cross of Italicawhich this year reached its forty-second edition with a massive attendance as it was held jointly with the Spanish Club Championship, crowned its new emperors. In the ruins of the city founded by Scipio Africanus, the Spanish Thierry Ndikumwenayo and the Kenyan Beatrice Chebet They won the absolute tests in the male and female categories, respectively, both held on a route of 7,542 meters and the most anticipated, without a doubt, of an intense morning of cross country that brought together some 3,000 at the facilities of the Archaeological Complex of Itálica. athletes coming, according to the organization’s figures, from 430 clubs throughout the country. The Nacional de Clubes, which returned to the archaeological site several years later, gave an extra layer of brilliance to an intense morning cross country event, the second that has taken place in Italics since on this occasion its program has been double, unfolding between Saturday and Sunday.
In any case, the most desired tests are the two absolute internationals. Those that have made the competition famous and have placed it on the map of the best crosses in the world. In fact, as is known, it is part of the calendar of the World Athletic Country Cross Tour of the International Athletics Federation (World Athletic) and this year it was full of incentives, not only because of its status as the Spanish Championship but also because it was a qualifying event for the European Championship of the specialty, set for December 8 in the Turkish city of Antalya. All these incentives explained that the national but also world cross-country elite was concentrated in Itálica, since it has become a draw for top-level athletes like Chebet, who is worth an empire. Or two.
The double Olympic champion in Paris, in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters, extended her empire to the cradle of Hadrian and Trajan with a marvelous display, without cracks at any point in the race, which she led from start to finish, with the security of than the one who knows she is the winner. Behind her, a group of African women made up of Daisy Jepkemeifrom Kazakhstan, her Kenyan compatriots Mercy and Diana Chepkemoi, plus the Ugandan Charity Cherop. Marta García and Carolina Roblesfirst the one from Leon and then the one from Seville, were the first Spaniards and thus, in this order, they also reached the finish line of a race that was a monologue by Chebet. An exam against herself that she passed with flying colours, with a grade. His relentless leadership, strengthened from the start, was six seconds ahead after the first lap (2,500 metres) and shot up to twelve seconds over Jepkemei. After almost half a minute I had Cheropthird, while the trio formed by Mercy and Diana Chepkemoi plus Marta García lost ten more seconds, but were seven ahead of Robles.
Aregawi, congratulating Ndikumwenayo, with Kwizera on the right, after the men’s absolute race
With victory secured barring a cataclysm, and far from slowing down, Chebet set a pace unattainable by the rest of his rivals, setting a finish time of 23 minutes and 32 seconds. Jepkemei arrived 27 seconds later and Cherop closed the podium. Marta and Carolina played for first place among the Spanish womenwho finally won the bronze medal in the 5,000 meters at the European Championships in Rome. Robles, who is having an unforgettable 2024, was seventh, contributing to the team victory of her Bilbao Athletics in the women’s category of the Spanish Championship. Second was Nerja and third, Cárnicas Serrano.
A more tactical race
After the imprint of Chebet’s teaching, it was the turn of the men’s absolute career. And the forecast was not nailed on this one. Much closer than the women’s race, and with a somewhat surprising development in the first two laps, the victory went to them Thierry Ndikumwenayowho two years ago had achieved the first Spanish victory in the Cross de Itálica since 1983. Younes Kniya, leader until halfway through the race, pulled for many meters. The candidates for glory, and the Moroccan from Unicaja Jaén was not exactly one of them, waited for their moment, embracing tactics, temporizing. There they were Adel Mechaal, Santiago Catrofe, Yemaneberhan Crippa and Martin Kiprotich, while Rodrigue Kwizera and Thierry Ndikumwenayo They followed placidly in his wake.
The Ethiopian Berihu Aregawi, third at the finish line, was even further back, not even in the top ten. Then he would accelerate to get into the ointment for victory, which he fought. The Italian Crippa was the first to reach Kniya and from there all the favorites followed in the wake of the nationalized transalpine. The race then changed. As expected. With just over a kilometer remaining, Aregawi took the lead, although briefly before the attack of the Kwizera-Ndikumwenayo duoteammates and training, which also reduced Crippa’s escape. The victory would be decided between the two Burundians, which the nationalized Spaniard scored by just three seconds over Kwizera (21:24/21:27). Your team, the Castellón beachestook the Spanish Championship, with Cárnicas Serrano and Vicky Foods in second and third position, respectively.
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