Kipruto and Shimket Triumph at the Cinque Mulini
In the scenic town of San Vittore Olona, the 92nd Cinque Mulini unfolded as a thrilling contest in the World Athletics Cross Country Tour Gold series. Kenya's Matthew Kipkoech Kipruto and Ethiopia's Yenenesh Shimket emerged as champions in their respective categories, showcasing their prowess in a competitive field.
Andrew Kiptoo Alamisi, 1500m Italian record holder Pietro Arese, John Wele Nahihay from Tanzania, Matthew Kipkoech Kipruto, Mathew Kipsang Kipchumba, Egide Ntakarutimana, Amanuel Saymon from Eritrea and Mezgebu Sime led the front group, who went through the first lap in 6:13 and the second lap in 11:41.
Kipruto pulled away from Kiptoo Alamisi and Wele building a 7-second lead during the third lap. Kipruto increased his lead to nine seconds in the final lap. Kiptoo closed the gap to just three seconds, but Kipruto held on to cross the finish-line in 27:26 holding off reigning 5000m world under 20 Andrew Kiptoo Alamisi. Matthew Kipchumba Kipsang completed the all-Kenyan podium in 27:45. Saymon finished fourth in 27:48 ahead of Wele (27:50), world under 20 cross country silver medallist Mezgebu Sime (27:50) and Ndikumana (27:56).
Women’s race:
A leading group formed by Olympic 10000 metres silver medallist and double 5000m and 10000m European champion Nadia Battocletti, Ludovica Cavalli, 17-year-old Yenenesh Shimket, Elvanie Nimbona from Burundi and Shelia Jebet from Kenya went through the first lap in 6:56.
Shimket took the lead during the second lap together with Battocletti before reaching the 4 km mark in 12:51, one second ahead of Sheila Jebet, who finished fifth at the World under 20 Championships in Lima in the 5000 metres last August.
Shimket increased her lead over the final lap and crossed the finish-line in 18:35 beating Jebet by 13 seconds. Shimket placed second in the under 20 at the African Cross Country Championships in Hammamet in 2024.
Battocletti crossed the finish-line in third place in 18:49 becoming the first Italian athlete to reach the podium at the Cinque Mulini since 2015, when Valeria Roffino finished third. Nimbona took fourth place in 19:11 ahead of 1500m world championships finalist Ludovica Cavalli from Italy, who placed fifth in 19:13.
“I really enjoyed this race. I wanted to start fast at the beginning of the race, but my rivals were more prepared than me in this period of the year. I needed to run this race to shake off the cobwebs. The Cinque Mulini is the start of the new season and I ran this competition to be in top shape for the European Cross Country Championships”, said Battocletti.
