Italy’s Nadia Battocletti and Kenya’s Matthew Kipsang won the 21st running of the Cross Internacional de Atapuerca. The meet is one of the finer races during the World Athletics Cross Country Tour.
Women’s race
Battocletti crossed the finish line in 22:21. Kenya’s Sheila Jebet clocked 22:34 for second place.
The race started fast, as 2024 winner Daisy Jepkemei of Kenya had designs on defending her title, led the early going. She built a big lead, but a few seconds back was a pack of Jebet, Battocletti, Megan Keith of the UK, and Spanish marathoner Majida Maayouf.
At the halfway point, Keith took over the lead. Meanwhile, Battocletti covered her move. With 2 km to go, the foursome was well ahead of the rest of the field. Maayouf had drifted and was out of contention.
Nadia Battocletti continua a vincere gare su tutte le superfici
— Carlofilippo Vardelli (@sgavdio) November 23, 2025
Atapuerca 2025 ✅ pic.twitter.com/FoolOYMbJF
Jebet and Battoclette dropped the field and ran hard for home.
With 400 metres remaining, Battocletti kicked hard and left Jebet reeling. Battocletti won by 13 seconds, with Jepkemei taking Keith out for third in 22:35. Maayouf rounded out the top five in 23:37.
Battocletti earned a silver medal in the 10,000m event at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. She also won a Tokyo World Championship silver in the 10,000 and a bronze in the 5000m this summer.
Men’s race
Matthew Kipsang bettered Edges Ridrique Kwizera in a sprint to the finish.
The men’s 6.8 km race featured a spectacular finish sprint for first and second between Kipsang and Kwizera.
Spain’s Daniel Arce kept pace early amid cheers from local spectators. The lead pack of Kwizera, Kipsang Kipsang, Emile Hafashimana, and Thierry Ndikumwenayo followed and kept watch.
Kwizera picked up the pace during the final lap, scattering the field, but they were all running their best for the finish line.
With less than a kilometre to go, Kwizera, Kipsang and Ndikumwenayo held the front. Ndikumwenayo drifted off with a hard fade.
Kwizera and Kipsang were shoulder-to-shoulder toward the final metres, but Kipsang finally dropped a powerful kick to take this third consecutive cross country win.
