- Winfred Yavi and Berihu Aregawi delivered commanding performances to claim victories at the Cross Internacional Juan Muguerza in Elgoibar, Spain, on Sunday.
- Yavi, a Kenyan-born Bahrain representative, clocked 25:23 to outpace 20-year-old Kenyan Sheila Jebet, who finished in 26:29.
- Berihu Aregawi reinforced his favorite status by completing a hat-trick of consecutive victories, finishing in 29:33.
Kenyan-born Bahrain’s Olympic 3000m steeplechase champion Winfred Yavi outpaced Kenyan Sheila Jebet to triumph at the Cross Internacional Juan Muguerza – a World Athletics Cross Country Tour Gold meeting – in the Spanish town of Elgoibar on Sunday (18).
Yavi dominated the women’s 7.62km race from the outset, completing the opening track lap in 1:15 with only Tunisia’s Marwa Bouzayani and Kenya’s Sheila Jebet able to match her early pace.
By that stage, the British duo of Lucy Jones and Kate O’Neill, along with the Spanish pair Isabel Barreiro and Angela Viciosa, led the large chasing pack three seconds behind.
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Winfred Yavi and Berihu Aregawi wins Cross Internacional Juan Muguerza
Yavi’s relentless tempo soon proved decisive as Bouzayani began to fall back around 2.1km into the contest.
The head-to-head battle between Yavi and Jebet lasted only a few minutes before the champion broke clear before the third kilometre.
Yavi finished the first major lap in 6:55, having built a five-second lead over Jebet, who herself held a 15-second advantage over Bouzayani, the world steeplechase fourth-place finisher. Jones, Barreiro, and Viciosa trailed the solitary leader by 45 seconds.
During the penultimate 2.2km circuit, an impressive Yavi steadily widened her gap, entering the bell with a commanding 26-second lead over Jebet and a 52-second margin over Bouzayani after another brisk 6:57 loop.
On the final lap, the 2023 world champion maintained her swift rhythm, covering the last circuit in 6:56 and crossing the finish line unchallenged.
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Her winning advantage expanded to 1:06 over Jebet, while Bouzayani secured third a further 19 seconds back. In the race for top European honors, Barreiro and Jones fought fiercely to the line, with the 26-year-old Spaniard ultimately edging the Briton by one second.
“I’m delighted,” said Yavi. “In Elgoibar, the people are so nice and they make me feel special. I came here very well prepared both physically and mentally.
It’s a great success for me to win here after my third place some years ago. I’ll next compete at the World Military Cross Country Championships in Trikala (Greece) at the end of February.”
Meanwhile, in the men’s race, Ethiopia’s Olympic 10,000m silver medalist Berihu Aregawi affirmed his favorite status by securing a hat-trick of consecutive victories, overcoming a challenge from Eritrea’s rising star Saymon Amanuel.
“Today’s win is my third consecutive win here and that makes me very happy,” said Aregawi, who joins Spain’s Mariano Haro as a three-time consecutive men’s winner. “The circuit is tough but I already know how to manage it.”
Cross Internacional Juan Muguerza – Leading Results (Top Five)
Women (7.6km)
- Winfred Yavi (BRN) 25:23
- Sheila Jebet (KEN) 26:29
- Marwa Bouzayani (TUN) 26:49
- Isabel Barreiro (ESP) 27:07
- Lucy Jones (GBR) 27:08
Men (9.7km)
- Berihu Aregawi (ETH) 29:33
- Saymon Amanuel (ERI) 29:40
- Said Mechaal (ESP) 30:09
- Thierry Ndikumwenayo (ESP) 30:12
- Santiago Catrofe (URU) 30:15