Adissu Yihune, world champion sub 20 of 5000 this summer in Cali, dominated at will in Lasarte in a test in which the Kenyans who had just won a week ago in Zaragoza performed very well: Paul Wanjiru and Nehemiah Kypiegon. For fourth place there was an intense fight between Miguel Angel Barzola, Adel Mechaal, Abdessamad Oukhlefen, Fernando Carro and Rober Alaiz. In the end it was the latter who took the cat to the water and confessed to us at the finish line that “I didn’t expect to feel so well. I haven’t been training long and it’s clear that now, having seen what I’ve seen, I’m going to try to be on the list for the European Championship”.
While, In Soria, the Italian champion Ilias Aouani was the protagonist, who was about to cause a surprise but, in the end, the power of the great favorite, the Burundian Thierry Ndikumwenayo, weighed in who entered the finish line in front of the current sub-20 world champion of 5000, Merhawi Mebratu and the Ugandan Peter Maru. Fourth was the Italian, fifth the Ugandan Dismas Yeco, sixth Tomas Ayeko and seventh, and first Spaniard, Nassim Hassaous.
In girls, also in Valonsadero, Kenyan Lucy Maiwa repeated her victory and with the same superiority as last year. Burundian Cavaline Nahimana tried to follow her but she paid so dearly that she couldn’t even finish the race. In the last lap, Marta Garcia showed her power, beating Laura Later in the sprint, who was on the podium for the first time in an international cross country. Fourth was the Argentinian Tesuri, fifth Cristina Ruiz from Burgos and seventh Marta Pérez from Soriana.
At the same time, Purity Chepkirui, world champion under 20 in 1500 last year, prevailed in Lasarte. She tried to do as in Zaragoza her compatriot Nancy Jepleting but today there was more level and he paid dearly for his daring. Second and third were the Ethiopians Meselu Berhe and Zerfe Wondimagnew and, running very well from less to more, fourth came Irene Sánchez Escribano who caught Carolina Robles in the last two kilometers, suffering from a strong flatus.