Kenyans Dominate European Cross Country Championships

Kenyan born Turkish athletes dominated men's and women's senior races at the 23rd edition of the European Cross Country Championships in Chia, Italy on Sunday, December 11.

Women's senior 8km individual title captured Kenyan born Ysemin Can with a time of 24:46 minutes as her teammate Meryem Akda, also former Kenyan, took second in  24:56 minutes. 

The women's 8km  podium concluded Norway's Bjerkeli Grovdal with a time of  25:26 minutes. 

“I do think we can’t just ignore it – something must be done." told Breaking News IE  Fionnuala McCormack, who placed 5th.

“I can’t do anything about it. Someone else has to do something about this.”

“I also don’t think a transfer of allegiance is the biggest problem. There are way more problems out there." the 2011 and 2012 European XC champion McCormack added.

Turkish/Kenyan women claimed women's European team title with 35 points followed by Great Britain with 51 points and Romania with 79 points. 

In the men's 10km race Kenyan born Turkish runners Aras Kaya (27:39) and Kemboi Ari Kan Polat (27:42) comfortably finished first and second. 

Callum Hawkins placed third to lead Great Britain to a European Cross Country Championships team title. Spanish team claimed silver, while Turks won bronze. 

Results