Battocletti and Kwizera Headline a Star-Studded Alcobendas Cross Country
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Olympic and world medallists Nadia Battocletti and Rodrigue Kwizera return to center stage on Sunday, November 30 as they headline the Cross Internacional de la Constitución de Alcobendas, the sixth Gold meeting of the World Athletics Cross Country Tour. Both athletes won here last year—and both went on to claim the overall Tour titles—setting the scene for another high-powered showdown on the undulating loops of Parque de Andalucía.
Women’s Race: Battocletti Targets Back-to-Back Wins
Fresh off her victory in Atapuerca, Nadia Battocletti aims to continue her dream season. The 25-year-old Italian has been a force across every surface: World Championships silver in the 10,000m, bronze in the 5000m in Tokyo 2025, and the Olympic silver over 10,000m in Paris. Last year she swept the European 5000m and 10,000m titles in Rome, and she owns an unmatched cross country résumé—becoming the first woman ever to win European gold at U20, U23, and senior level.
Battocletti knows Alcobendas well: she finished second in 2022 and third in 2023, but arrives now as the athlete to beat.
Her main challengers include:
Sheila Jebet (KEN) – 4th in the 5000m at the 2024 World U20 Championships and runner-up to Battocletti in Atapuerca.
Megan Keith (GBR) – European U23 champion in Brussels 2023, 4th last week in Atapuerca, and a 5000m European U23 gold medallist.
Yenenesh Shimket (ETH) – Winner of the Cinque Mulini in both 2024 and 2025, with PBs of 8:32.05 (3000m) and 14:48 (road 5 km).
With the European Cross Country Championships in Lagoa just two weeks away, Alcobendas will be the final major test for both Battocletti and Keith before the continental showdown.
Spain’s top hope is Laura Luengo, 11th in the marathon at the Tokyo World Championships and eager to make her mark on home soil.
Men’s Race: Kwizera Chases an Incredible Fifth Title
On the men’s side, Rodrigue Kwizera returns as the undisputed king of Alcobendas, having crossed the finish line first in each of the past four editions. The Burundian star opened his 2025 campaign with a win in Seville and followed it with podium finishes in both Soria and Atapuerca. He also rewrote his country’s record books with scintillating PBs of 58:38 in the half marathon and 26:54 over 10 km.
But the competition will be fierce.
Kwizera renews his rivalry with training partner Thierry Ndikumwenayo, now running for Spain. The 2024 European Cross Country bronze medallist and 2019 Alcobendas champion has been consistently strong this autumn—5th in Seville, 4th in Soria, and 3rd in Atapuerca—and will be hungry to reclaim the top spot.
Another big threat is Ethiopia’s rising star Saymon Amanuel Tesfagiorgis, just 18 years old. Amanuel claimed a brilliant win at the Cinque Mulini last weekend and boasts PBs of 27:10 (10 km road) and 13:01.85 (5000m).
Italy’s Yohannes Chiappinelli also returns to cross country after a massive 2024–2025 period on the roads, highlighted by a 2:05:54 Italian marathon record in Valencia and a strong 6th-place finish in the Tokyo World Championship marathon.
