Burundi’s Rodrigue Kwizera and Kenya’s Mercy Chepkemoi won the 30th edition of the Cross Internacional de Soria on Sunday. The meet is the fourth event in the World Athletics Cross Country Tour.

The women’s race

The women’s 8km race started cautiously. Burundi’s Francine Nyomokunzi and Kenya’s Diana Chepkemoi separated themselves from the rest of the field early on. The lead group extended its gap to 17 seconds over Perez, who is the Spanish record holder in the 1500-metre event. Midway, Sharon Chepkemoi, who was initially part of the lead pack was dropped hard and would have to compete for a position outside of the medals.

Chepkemoi dropped the pace just before the bell rang to signify the final lap. Only Nyomokunzi was able to keep up. During the final lap Chepkemoi and Nyomokunzi increased their lead over the chase pack. 

Chepkemoi broke away from Nyomokunzi with 300m remaining. The Kenyan ran a devastating final 2km lap to cross the finish line in the time of 26:48. She finished seven in front of Nyomokunzi. Diana Chepkemoi finished third 23 seconds back. Sharon Chepkemoi placed fourth in 27:28.

Mercy Chepkemoi finished 12th in the under 20 race at the World Cross Country Championships in Belgrade on 30 March and fourth in the 5000 metres at the World Under 20 Championships in Lima 2024.

The men’s race

Burundi’s Egide Ntakarutimana led early. Meanwhile, Ethiopia’s 19-year-old Ayele Tadesse pushed the pace to run a sub-6-minute first lap. Tadesse increased the effort to open up a two-second lead over his fellow Ethiopian Wegene Addisu. At the time, Kwizera led the chase pack sitting in third place and just two seconds behind Addisu.

Kwizera accelerated just before halfway clocking 5:47 in the second lap. During this portion of the race, the Burundian closed the gap on the Ethiopians.

Kwizera went to the front at the bell. Kiplagat and Ntakaturimana began to drop off. Kwizera put more space between himself and the field with 1500m to go.

And again Kwizera turned the screws over the final km to take his third win in Soria in the time of 23:17. Tadesse overtook Kipsang with 600m remaining, nine seconds ahead of the Kenyan athlete. Kipsang held off Addisuto to take third with the same time of 23:31 in a close photo finish. Ntakaturimana crossed the finish line in 23:39, just one second ahead of Hosea Kiplangat.

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