Ugandan Jacob Kiplimo and Kenyan Beatrice Chebet were proclaimed cross world champions this Saturday in Bathurst (Australia), where the Spanish men’s team was seventh and the women’s ninth.
Kiplimo, double Commonwealth gold medalist in 2022, stopped the clock at the finish after covering the ten kilometers of the event in 29:17.02. The second was the Ethiopian Aragawi Bet (29:27.99) and the third was also the Ugandan Joshua Cheptegei (29:38.01), who could not keep his crown obtained in Denmark in 2019.
The first Spaniard was Aaron de las Heras, twenty-second with 31:08. He was followed by Nassim Hassaous (34th), Sergio Paniagua (39th), Abdessamad Oukhelfen (42nd) and Andreu Blanes (55th). Spain finished seventh by team.
In the women’s category, Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet claimed glory after taking advantage of the collapse, fifty meters from the finish, of Ethiopia’s Letesenbet Gidey, bronze of the 2019 World Cup and world record holder in the 5,000, 10,000 and half marathon. Chebet won with a time of 33:48.
After a fall, several members of the Ethiopian delegation jumped onto the circuit to help Gidey, who crossed the finish line in fourth position but was disqualified for receiving help in competition.
The podium, alongside Chebet, was completed by Ethiopian Tsigie Gebreselama, second, and Kenyan Agnes Jebet Ngetich, third.
The first Spaniard was Irene Sánchez Escribano, who scored the thirtieth goal with 36:20. Behind her Laura Luengo (39th), Cristina Ruiz (41st), Naima Ait Alibou (45th) and Carolina Robles (50th). In teams, Spain were ninth, three points from being finalists.