Battocletti Takes On Amebaw, Jepkemei and Keith at the 2025 Cross Internacional de Atapuerca

European cross country champion Nadia Battocletti will face Ethiopia’s Likina Amebaw, Kazakhstan’s Daisy Jepkemei, and Britain’s Megan Keith at the Cross Internacional de Atapuerca, one of the three World Athletics Cross Country Tour Gold races taking place this Sunday near Burgos.

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Battocletti Returns for Her First XC Race of the Season

Italy’s Nadia Battocletti opens her cross country season after a sensational summer on the track, highlighted by World Championships silver in the 10,000m and bronze in the 5,000m in Tokyo 2025. The 25-year-old will contest two Spanish races—Atapuerca (23 Nov) and Alcobendas (30 Nov)—as part of her build-up toward the European Cross Country Championships in Lagoa on 14 December.

Battocletti, already the holder of five European Cross Country gold medals (two U20, two U23, one senior) and a historic sweep of European XC titles across all age categories, has emerged as one of the continent’s most versatile endurance athletes. She has won European crowns on the track (5,000m/10,000m in Rome 2024), in cross country (Antalya 2024), and on the roads (10 km in Leuven 2025). She also became the first Italian athlete to win the World Cross Country Tour title.

Atapuerca will mark her fourth appearance at the Spanish classic, following steady progression: 14th in 2019 (U20), 12th in 2021, and 6th in 2022.

Amebaw and Jepkemei Bring World-Class Depth

Battocletti’s main rivals include Ethiopia’s Likina Amebaw, one of the most consistent cross country athletes in Spain. Amebaw opened the 2025 XC season with wins in Amorebieta and Soria, along with a strong third place in Seville. Her best result in Atapuerca came in 2023, when she finished fourth.

Amebaw enjoyed an excellent track and road season in 2025, setting personal bests of 4:00.14 (1500m), 8:34.53 (3000m) and 14:30.54 (5000m), and finishing third over 3000m (8:41.08) at the Zürich Diamond League. She also improved to 1:04:44 in the half marathon and 29:55 in the 10 km.

Kazakhstan’s Daisy Jepkemei, the 2012 world U20 steeplechase champion and sixth-place finisher at the 2024 World Cross Country Championships in Belgrade, brings strong credentials as well. She clocked a seasonal best of 9:15.98 in the steeplechase at the Diamond League Final in Zürich.

Keith Leads a Strong British Charge

Britain’s Megan Keith continues her rise after winning the European U23 XC title in 2023 and taking European U23 silver one year later behind Battocletti. She also earned European 10,000m bronze in Rome 2024. Keith opened her 2025 cross country campaign with a fourth-place finish at the Cardiff Gold meeting, 20 seconds behind Sheila Jebet—who will also be in action in Atapuerca following her runner-up finish in Soria.

African Strength and a Deep Spanish Contingent

• Burundi’s Micheline Niyomahoro adds further international quality to the women’s field. Now married to Italian record-holder Yohannes Chiappinelli, she owns a 5000m personal best of 15:06.65.
• The Spanish contingent will be racing for national club championship points, led by:
• Marta Serrano – European U23 silver medallist (3000m steeplechase)
• Carla Gallardo – Spanish 10 km road record holder
• Ángela Viciosa – 4th at the European U23 XC Championships, daughter of 1998 European 5000m champion Isaac Viciosa
• Majiida Mayouf – Spanish marathon record holder (2:21:01, Valencia 2021)
• Isabel Barreiro – Spanish 10,000m record holder
• Carolina Robles – 8th in the 3000m steeplechase at the 2024 European Championships

Kipsang vs. Kwizera Takes Center Stage in the Men’s Race

The men’s contest sets up an exciting rematch between Kenya’s Matthew Kipsang and Burundi’s Rodrigue Kwizera, who produced a thrilling sprint duel in Soria, where Kipsang prevailed.

Kipsang, 11th in the 5000m at the Tokyo World Championships and third in Atapuerca last year, enters as one of the favourites.

Spanish Stars Highlight the Men’s Field

Spain’s leading contenders include:

Thierry Ndikumwenayo – fourth in the recent Cardiff Gold race, just three seconds behind Kipsang; European 10,000m bronze medallist in Rome 2024; national record holder (7:25.93 for 3000m, 26:49.49 for 10,000m).

Said Mechaal – recently third in the Paris 20 km.

Other Top Contenders

Chasing top-five finishes will be:

• Naibei Kiplimo Mayebei (KEN) – fifth in Soria
• Emile Hafashimana (BDI) – seventh in the 5000m at the 2024 World U20 Championships
• Celestin Ndikumana (BDI) – 13:10.93 5000m PB at the Keqiao Diamond League