Kipruto and Shimket Lead World-Class Fields at the 93rd Cinque Mulini
Kenya’s Matthew Kipkoech Kipruto and Ethiopia’s Yenenesh Shimket return to San Vittore Olona on Sunday, 22 November, to defend their crowns at the 93rd Cinque Mulini, the fifth Gold-level stop of the World Athletics Cross Country Tour.
Men’s Race Preview
Kipruto, last year’s champion, arrives as one of the most consistent performers on the circuit. The 20-year-old Kenyan finished second in the 2024/2025 World Cross Country Tour standings behind Burundi’s Rodrigue Kwizera and has enjoyed a standout 2025 season, posting PBs of 27:42.26 (10,000m track), 27:50 (10 km road), 13:19.58 (5000m track), and 13:27 (5 km road).
Fellow rising star Amanuel Saymon also returns after finishing fourth here last year. The 18-year-old has made significant progress in 2025, clocking 13:01.85 for 5000m in Nice and a 27:10 road 10 km in Lille.
Ethiopia’s Adehena Kasaye adds further quality to the field. A world mixed relay silver medallist in Belgrade 2024 and African 1500m bronze medallist in 2022, Kasaye boasts PBs of 3:36.38 (1500m) and 13:58.59 (5000m).
Italy’s biggest attraction will be Iliass Aouani, making his first appearance at the Cinque Mulini since 2015. The Italian star is coming off a historic season: bronze medallist in the marathon at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo—the nation’s first podium since Stefano Baldini in 2003—and European champion in Leuven. Aouani also holds the second-fastest Italian marathon time ever with 2:06:06 from Valencia 2024.
“I feel in good shape, though not yet at my peak. My first Cinque Mulini in 2015 was wet and freezing, but unforgettable. The last Italian winner was Alberto Cova in 1986—it's time to change that. I’m training hard to improve across 5000m, 10,000m, half marathon, and marathon,” Aouani said.
Another Italian to watch is national 1500m record holder Pietro Arese, using the race as a tune-up ahead of the European Cross Country Championships in Lagoa. Arese—twice a European mixed relay champion—earned bronze in the 1500m at Rome 2024 and broke the national record twice in 2024–2025, lowering it to 3:30.74 in the Olympic final.
Also returning is Nekagenet Crippa, Italy’s top finisher last year in 11th place. Crippa owns a marathon PB of 2:07:35 (Valencia 2024). Further Italian contenders include Osama Zoghlami, European 3000m steeplechase silver medallist in 2022, and reigning national cross country champion Luca Alfieri.
Women’s Race Preview
Defending champion Yenenesh Shimket is back after an excellent 2025 season, highlighted by an 8:32.01 PB over 3000m at the Rabat Diamond League. The 18-year-old Ethiopian also claimed silver at the 2024 African Cross Country Championships.
Her main challengers include:
Sharon Chepkemoi (Kenya), seventh in the 3000m at the World U20 Championships in Lima 2024
Elvanie Nimbona (Burundi), eighth at the 2022 African Championships over 10,000m and owner of a 1:09:00 half marathon PB
Valentina Gemetto (Italy), fresh off a third-place finish at the Soria World Cross Country Tour Gold race
Micol Majori, Italy’s 2025 short-course cross country champion
Short-Course Races
In the women’s short-course event, Marta Zenoni seeks her second straight Cinque Mulini title. The middle-distance star has enjoyed a spectacular 2025 campaign, breaking Gabriella Dorio’s national indoor 1500m record (4:03.59) and the Italian mile record (4:17.16 in London), while lowering her 800m best to 1:59.45.
On the men’s side, Sebastiano Parolini returns aiming to defend his crown. Parolini and Zenoni were key members of Italy’s mixed relay team that captured European Cross Country gold in Antalya 2024.
