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The youth was served at a defacto dual meet between Ethiopia and Kenya in San Giorgio su Legnano, Italy on the weekend.

Two Ethiopians won the fourth event of the 2019-2020 World Athletics Cross Country Permit series. Fotyen Tesfay and Mogos Tuemay broke the tape at the 63rd annual Campaccio race.

In the men’s race 3,000-metre steeplechase Doha World silver medallist Lamech Girma at just 19, challenged Tuemay for most of the race, however, during the final lap, Tuemay pulled clear. Together at the start of the final 2K loop, Tuemay dropped the pace significantly over the final half-lap to win by 10 seconds in the time of 29:01 to Girma’s 29:11 over the 10K distance.

Robert Keter, a Kenyan 5,000m specialist, and world record holder took third in 29:13.
The first Italian finished fourth in 29:18 – a strong performance for 24-year-old Yemaneberhan Crippa. He owns a 10,000m best of 27:10.76.

Tuemay owns a slightly slower 10,000m best of 27:23.49 and a half-marathon best of 62:48. They both appear to have a bright future in athletics.

During the women’s three-lap, six-kilometre event, Doha World’s 5,000m silver medallist Margaret Chelimo Kipkemboi took the pace out hard, as had fellow Kenyan Gloria Kite – who took the lead very early – it appeared that the two were trying to run the legs out of Ethiopians Tesfay and Alemifu Tariku.

Tesfay later went to the front and was pushed hard by Kipkemboi. Tesfay, at just 21, took the win in the time of 19:27. Kite crossed the line two seconds back, while Tariku stopped the clock at 19:37. Cherono finished in the time of 19:45.

Tesfay finished 11th at the 2019 World Athletics Cross Country Championships that took place in Aarhus, Denmark.

Kipkemboi specializes in the 5,000m event having won gold at the All-Africa Games in 2015 and silver in the 2016 All-Africa Championships. She owns a best of 14:27.49 from October 2019 which ranks her currently fourth in the world and 43rd all-time.

The next Permit series meet takes place this Sunday at the 77th Cross Internacional Juan Muguerza in Elgoibar, Spain.

Results and information about the Permit Series can be found here>>