Rodrigue Kwizera and Mercy Chepkemoi Triumph at the 30th Cross Internacional de Soria
Burundi’s Rodrigue Kwizera and Kenya’s Mercy Chepkemoi triumphed at the 30th edition of the Cross Internacional de Soria, marking the fourth leg of the prestigious World Athletics Cross Country Tour Gold. Their victories underscored the competitive spirit and high caliber of athletes participating in this renowned event, attracting a global audience and highlighting the rich tradition of cross country running.
The women’s 8 km race started at a slow pace. A quartet led by Burundi’s Francine Nyomokunzi and Kenya’s Diana Chepkemoi broke away from the rest of the field. Spanish 1500 metres record holder Marta Perez was running in fifth place four seconds behind.
The leading group extended its gap to 17 seconds over Perez. Sharon Chepkemoi was dropped and lost any chance of reaching the top-three.
Mercy Chepkemoi stepped up her pace 200 metresbefore the bell. Only Francine Nyomokunzi was able to keep up her pace with Chepkemoi. During the last lap Chepkemoi and Nyomokunzi increased their lead over Diana and Sharon Chepkemoi.
Mercy Chepkemoi tried to pull away from Nyomokunzi, but the Burundian athlete managed to keep up pace with her Kenyan rival
Chepkemoi broke away from Nyomokunzi with 300 metres to go over an up and down section of the course. The Kenyan athlete ran a fast 6:34 in the last lap to cross the finish-line in 26:48 with a lead of seven seconds over Nyomokunzi. World under 20 3000 metres steeplechase bronze medallist Diana Chepkemoi finished third 23 seconds behind Chepkemoi. Sharon Chepkemoi placed fourth in 27:28.
Mercy Chepkemoi finished 12th in the under 20 race at the World Cross Country Championships in Belgrade on 30 March and fourth in the 5000 metres at the World under 20 Championships in Lima 2024.
“It was not an easy race because of the hills but I felt quite strong. Today was my first outing in Europe and it’s very important for me to win at a Gold Permit like Soria”, said Chepkemoi.
Men’s race:
Burundi’s Egide Ntakarutimana set the early pace in the men’s race leading a big group that featured all favourites. Ethiopia’s 19-year-old Ayele Tadesse step up the pace to clock 5:56 in the first lap. Tadesse increased his rhythm to open up a two-second lead over his compatriot Wegene Addisu. Kwizera led the chasing group in third place two seconds behind Addisu.
Kwizera accelerated just before halfway clocking 5:47 in the second lap. The Burundian athlete caught up with the Ethiopian athletes.
Kwizera took over to reach the bell in the lead. Hosea Kiplagat and Ntakaturimana lost the ground.
Kwizera broke away 1500 metres to go opening up a gap of 2 seconds over Kipchumba Kipsang, who was ten metres ahead of Tadesse and Addisu.
Kwizera pulled away over the last kilometer to take his third win in Soria in 23:17, while Tadesse overtook Kipsang with 600 metres to go nine seconds ahead of the Kenyan athlete. Kipsang held off Addisuto take third place with the same time of 23:31 in a close photo-finish. Ntakaturimana crossed the finish-line in 23:39 one second ahead of Hosea Kiplangat.
Nassim Hassaous was the top European athlete in seventh place in 23:55 with the same time as eighth placer Ibrahim Buras from Norway.
“I am satisfied as my target was the win and I managed to get it. At first I felt a bit uncomfortable as I am accustomed to training at sea level and Soria is over 1000 metres at altitude. Anyway I controlled the race but preferred to stay behind to protect myself from the wind and only unleash my attack in the closing stages. I will compete in the Cross Italica in Seville on 17 November”, said Kwizera.
