Amebaw dominates while Kipsang outsprints Kwizera in Soria

Kenya’s Mathew Kipsang and Ethiopia’s Likina Amebaw claimed victory at the Cross Internacional de Soria — the fourth Gold-level meeting of this season’s World Athletics Cross Country Tour — held in the Spanish city of Soria on a sunny but windy Sunday (16).

- 

Mathew Kipsang wins in Soria.

Amebaw dominated the women’s race, while world 5000m finalist Kipsang denied pre-race favourite Rodrigue Kwizera a fourth Soria victory after a dramatic final sprint.

The women’s 8km began at a crawl: the opening 2km lap took 7:20 with Italy’s Valentina Gemetto, Kenya's Sheila Jebet and Amebaw sharing the lead. Spain’s Idaira Prieto briefly pushed to the front, but the pace barely lifted, the second lap clocking 7:11. About 200m into the third circuit, Amebaw finally injected real purpose, and only the 20-year-old Jebet could respond. A few seconds back ran Kenya’s Noshin Kimuge, followed by Gemetto, Prieto and Spain's Maria Urena.

Amebaw’s surge produced a 6:20 third loop, though Jebet held firm until about a mile from home, when the young Kenyan finally began to fade. Amebaw pressed on alone, covering the final lap in 6:14 and finishing unchallenged in 27:25, 30 seconds clear of Jebet.