- Beatrice Chebet won the title in an amazing time of 25:47.
- This was her fourth appearance in the event, having also featured in 2020, 2022, and 2024.
- Ethiopia’s Berihu Aregawi won the men’s title in 29:34 ahead of East African runners.
Double Olympic Games champion Beatrice Chebet produced an eye-catching display on Sunday afternoon to win the 2025 Elgoibar Cross Country title in Spain.
Chebet was too strong for her competitors in the World Athletics Cross Country Tour Gold event that was staged in cloudy conditions.
She did not wait for long before breaking away from the leading pack that had the likes of Ethiopia’s fast-rising athlete Melknat Kudu.
Chebet went on a solo run in the final phases of the race before crossing the finishing line in a time of 25:47.
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The time that the athlete, who runs under the Rosa Associati Management clocked, was nearly one minute faster than what the runner-up clocked.
This was Chebet’s fourth podium place finish in Elgoibar since she had triumphed in the 2023 edition and finished second twice in 2020 and 2022.
The second-place position went to Kudu (26:32) with Burundi’s Francine Niyomukunzi (26:32) settling for third. Kudu had to dig deep in the final few meters of the race to outpace Niyomukunzi.
Chebet’s victory in Elgoibar comes days after she set a novel 5km world record in the 2024 Cursa dels Nassos road race that was held on December 31, 2024 in Barcelona, Spain.
The 24-year-old clocked an outstanding time of 13:54 to lower the previous mark that she set in the 2023 edition by more than 10 seconds.
Berihu Aregawi’s winning streak continues
In the men’s category, Ethiopia’s Berihu Aregawi, who also competes under the Rosa Associati Management, clinched the title.
Aregawi produced a brilliant kick to cut the tape in a time of 29:34 and in the process continued with his winning streak.
The Paris Olympic Games 10000m silver medalist had also won the San Silvestre Vallecana race in Madrid a few days ago.
Aregawi was followed by Burundi’s Rodrigue Kwizera and his Ethiopian compatriot Samuel Firewu, who managed a time of 29:36 and 29:57 respectively.
Top three male finishers
- Berihu Aregawi: 29:34 (Ethiopia)
- Rodrigue Kwizera: 29:36 (Burundi)
- Samuel Firewu: 29:57 (Ethiopia)
Top three female finishers
- Beatrice Chebet: 25:47 (Kenya)
- Melknat Wudu: 26:32 (Ethiopia)
- Francine Niyomukunzi: 26:32 (Ethiopia)
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