Amebaw Triumphs as Kwizera Claims Third Cross Itálica Title
Likina Amebaw and Rodrigue Kwizera claimed contrasting victories at the 2026 Cross Internacional de Itálica in Santiponce, near Seville. Ethiopia’s Amebaw surged clear on the final lap to win the women’s race in 30:41, seven seconds ahead of Uganda’s Charity Cherop, while Spain’s Kwizera edged Kenya’s Charles Kiboino by just one second in 27:36 to secure his third title at the historic Roman archaeological site.
Women's race:
A compact group of about six runners went to the front. Burundi’s Francine Niyomokunzi dictated the pace during the early stages of the race, while the other top contenders Likina Amebaw, Uganda’s Charity Cherop and Kenya’s Cynthia Chepkurui stayed close behind.
The leading pack gradually thinned out under the pressure of Amebaw, Cherop and Chepkurui, who broke away from the rest of the field.
The turning point of the race came at the bell, when Amebaw launched her kick. Cherop was unable to keep up the pace with Amebaw, who built a comfortable lead and went on to cross the finish-line alone in 30:41 ahead of Cherop (30:48). Chepkurui completed the podium by finishing third in 30:57 ahead of 19-year-old Ethiopian athlete Yeneneh Shimket (31:24) and Maurine Chebor (32:02).
Amebaw has claimed her sixth cross country race of the 2026 season after finishing third in last year’s edition of the Cross Italica.
Amebaw crowned a successful season after winning the 5000m at the Ultimate Championships in Budapest and the 5 km at the World Road Running Championships in Copenhagen last September. She set a world seasonal lead of 14:18.41 in the 5000 metres at the Diamond League meeting in Rome last June.
Likina Amebaw: “I am happy to upgrade my third place in last year’s edition in a win over a course I love. I share the joy at adding my name to the historic list of honours of the Italica Cross Country race.”
Men’s race:
Rodrigue Kwizera from Spain won the men’s race in 27.36 ahead of Kenyan runners Charles Kiboino (27:37) and 5000m world under 20 champion Frankline Kibet (27:38) in a close battle.
A leading pack that included Rodrigue Kwizera, Olympic 10000 metres silver medallist Berihu Aregawi and Thierry Ndikumwenayo formed at the front. Top runners ran a tactical race in the early kilometres studying each other on the muddy sections of the course.
The front group increased their rhythm as the race progressed. Aregawi pushed hard to shake off the field, but Kwizera kept his pace.
The race turned into a thrilling battle, as the top contenders entered the final lap. Kwizera outkicked Kiboino by just one second in a thrilling finish. Frankline Kibet completed the podium on his senior debut.
Denis Kemboi finished fourth in 27:52. Reigning European cross country country champion Thierry Ndikumwenayo rounded out the top five in 27:58.
Kwizera claimed the third win of his career at the Cross Italica after her previous wins in 2021 and 2025 joining multiple world cross country champion Kenenisa Bekele as the only other to win this race three times. This race marked his first cross country race as a Spanish athlete competing in front of his home fans.
Rodrigue Kwizera: “It is incredibly special for me. I have won here twice before under the flag of Burundi, but winning today for the first time as a Spanish athlete makes this the most emotional win of my career. Feeling the push and the cheers from the fans along the course was unforgettable”.
