Resilient Chebet defies cold weather to triumph in Spain
Bronze medalist Kenya's Emily Chebet (centre) celebrates with fellow athletes after the final of the women's 10,000m athletics event at Hampden Park during the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland on July 29, 2014. Chebet made short work of a rich field to win women’s 8km race at the 33rd Cross Internacional de Italica race held under severe conditions in Seville, Spain, on January 18, 2014. PHOTO| AFP
What you need to know:
- Chebet, the two-time World Cross champion (2010, 2013), weathered the rains, gusts of wind and underfoot mud to win in 27:15mins and prove she was ready to defend her world crown in two months in Guiyang, China.
- Medhin won the 10.8km race in 32:27min, followed by Birech 11 seconds later in 32:38. Ugandan Timothy Toroitich (32:49) was third.
World Cross Country champion Emily Chebet made short work of a rich field to win women’s 8km race at the 33rd Cross Internacional de Italica race held under severe conditions in Seville, Spain, on Sunday.
Kenya’s steeplechaser, Jairus Birech, came second in men’s race as World Cross-country bronze medallist Teklemariam Medhin became the first Eritrean to win in Seville.
Chebet, the two-time World Cross champion (2010, 2013), weathered the rains, gusts of wind and underfoot mud to win in 27:15mins and prove she was ready to defend her world crown in two months in Guiyang, China.
World 5,000m bronze medallist Mercy Cherono (27:34) was second, followed by Baharain’s Mimi Belete four seconds later. Kenya’s Magdelene Masai (28:16) finished fourth.
Just before the midway point, Cherono injected a frantic pace which allowed her to open a slight advantage over Chebet while Belete and Masai fell from the leading group.
For one kilometre, Cherono ran 15 metres ahead of Chebet but the former fell over some 17:45 into the race in a muddy section. It took her several seconds to regain her balance and recover, losing valuable seconds in the process. By the time Cherono was back into her rhythm, Chebet was already 40 metres ahead, but Cherono’s fall proved to also be psychological as she never threatened the world cross-country champion’s lead from then on.
It was Birech, the Diamond Race steeplechase winner, made most of the early pace in men’s race. Medhin won the 10.8km race in 32:27min, followed by Birech 11 seconds later in 32:38. Ugandan Timothy Toroitich (32:49) was third.
