by Larry Eder
Geoffrey Kamworor wins senior Men’s XC, photo by Getty Images for IAAF
Letesembet Gidey wins junior Women’s WXC! photo by Getty Images for IAAF
Ethiopia this time number one
GUIYANG (CHN, Mar 28): Ethiopia and Kenya as expected dominated at the World CC Championships first time held in China. They won all 12 individual medals and finished one-two in all four team standings. At the end Ethiopia was better 5-3-3 with Kenya 3-5-1. Remaining four team medals went to Bahrain (twice), Eritrea and Uganda. Best non-African (and non Bahrain) individual position was the 15th place of Spain´s Trihas Gebre in women senior race. Ethiopian runners won both junior races, Letesembet Gidey 19:48 and Yasin Haji 23:42. In junior girls both other medals also for Ethiopia (Dera Dida 19:49) and Etgegn Woldu (19:53), in junior boys for Kenya (Geoffrey Korir 23:47 and Alfred Ngeno 23:54). Women senior race had Agnes Tirop winning the gold for Kenya (26:01) over Ethiopians Senbere Teferi (26:06) and Netsanet Gudeta (26:11). The title defender Emily Chebet was 6th (26:18). In the most anticipated men senior race top two for Kenya with versatile Geoffrey Kamworor after winning last year World Half-Marathon title now the CC gold 34:52 over Bedan Karoki 35:00 and best from Ethiopians third Muktar Edris 35:06 as third. Ethiopia won all team titles but one, junior boys was for Kenya. Best European runners were Maria Larsen of Denmark (junior girls, 30th,21:49), Yemaneberhan Crippa from Italy (junior boys, 20th, 24:52), Trihas Gebre from Spain (women, 15th, 27:50) and Polat Arikan Kemboi from Turkey (men, 22nd, 36:40). Best teams France (girls, 11th), Italy (boys, 8th), Spain (women, 7th) and Spain (men, 12th). Next edition of World CC Champs will be held in 2017 in Kampala, Uganda.
Agnes Tirop wins senior Womens’ WXC, photo by Getty Images for IAAF
Yasin Haji wins Junior Men’s WXC, photo by Getty Images for IAAF
