Mathew Kipsang Breaks Rodrigue Kwizera's Heart Once More in Epic Atapuerca Finish

The Kenyan once again outpaced Rodrigue Kwizera in a late-race duel to extend his dominant cross-country streak.

Kenya’s Mathew Kipsang claimed top honours in the men’s race as Italy's Nadia Battocletti secured a hard-earned victory at the Cross Internacional de Atapuerca, a World Athletics Cross Country Tour Gold event on Sunday.

Mathew Kipsang Shocks A Strong Field Yet Again

The men's 6.82km contest began with local favourite Daniel Arce, born just 30km from the course, taking an early solo lead.

Cheered on by the home crowd, Arce led for the first 2.6km before being absorbed by the main pack, where Burundi's Rodrigue Kwizera controlled the tempo.

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After a relatively slow penultimate lap, Rodrigue Kwizera dramatically increased the pace at the bell. His acceleration splintered the lead group, leaving only six contenders: Kwizera, Kipsang, Emile Hafashimana of Burundi, and the Spanish trio of Thierry Ndikumwenayo, Said Mechaal, and Ilias Fifa.

The relentless pace proved too much for Hafashimana, Mechaal, and Fifa, who one by one dropped back. Entering the final kilometre, it was a three-man race between Kwizera, Kipsang, and Ndikumwenayo. However, Ndikumwenayo's challenge faded with 350 metres to go.

Rodrigue Kwizera desperately tried to shake Kipsang in the closing stages, but the Kenyan stayed right on his heels. In a repeat of their duel a week earlier in Soria, Kipsang unleashed a devastating sprint in the final metres to overtake Kwizera and snatch the victory.

The win keeps Kipsang's European cross-country tour record perfect, with successive victories in Cardiff, Soria, and now Atapuerca.

Nadia Battocletti Emerges as Surprise Winner

Competing in the women’s 6.82km race, defending champion Daisy Jepkemei of Kazakhstan immediately set the pace, leading a front group that included Nadia Battocletti, Kenya’s Sheila Jebet, Great Britain’s Megan Keith, and Spain's Majida Maayouf.

Maayouf was the first to fall off the lead pace after the third kilometre, though she remained comfortably ahead of a chasing pack of fellow Spanish runners.

Midway through the race, Keith took a turn at the front, but Battocletti looked strong on her shoulder, with Jepkemei and Jebet close behind.

As the bell sounded for the final 2km lap, the leading quartet had established a commanding 24-second lead over Maayouf.

The decisive moment came with about 17 minutes on the clock when 20-year-old Jebet surged ahead. Only Battocletti could match the sudden burst of speed, leaving Jepkemei and Keith to battle for third.

Jebet held the lead for just over a kilometre before the 25-year-old Italian unleashed a powerful kick with 500 metres remaining.

Battocletti broke away with remarkable ease, quickly opening a significant gap. She crossed the finish line unchallenged in 22:21, a full 13 seconds ahead of Jebet. Jepkemei held off a strong challenge from Keith to claim the final podium spot.

"My win might have seemed easy, but I felt frozen and the race was tough because of the cold and the wind," Battocletti told World Athletics.

"It’s my fourth outing in Atapuerca and I finally managed to win here. That makes me extremely happy."

Shimket and Amanuel Triumph at Cinque Mulini

In other cross-country action, Yenenesh Shimket successfully defended her title at the Cinque Mulini in San Vittore Olona, another World Athletics Cross Country Tour Gold meeting. In the men's race, Saymon Amanuel upset last year's winner, Matthew Kipruto.

Ethiopia's Shimket dominated the 6.2km women's race from the start, breaking away on the first of three laps. She built an insurmountable lead, eventually crossing the line in 19:11, a full 35 seconds ahead of the competition. In the battle for second, Kenya's Sharon Chepkemoi narrowly beat Burundi's Elvanie Nimbona.

Eritrean teenager Saymon Amanuel and Ethiopia's Yenenesh Shimket delivered commanding performances to claim victories in their respective men's and women's races over the weekend.

In the men's 8.2km event, 18-year-old Amanuel became the second Eritrean to win the title, following in the footsteps of Zersenay Tadese's 2008 victory.

Amanuel, who finished fourth in last year's 10.2km race, made a decisive move on the third of four laps to secure the win. He crossed the finish line in 22:48, a comfortable 32 seconds ahead of defending champion Matthew Kipruto of Kenya.

Local favorite Iliass Aouani, competing for the first time since his marathon bronze at the World Championships in Tokyo, rounded out the podium.

Aouani kept pace with the leaders for the first two laps but eventually fell back, finishing third with a time of 23:29. He was warmly applauded by Amanuel as he crossed the line, narrowly holding off fellow Italian Luca Alfieri by just two seconds to become the top domestic finisher.

The women's 6.2km race saw Ethiopia's Yenenesh Shimket take the top spot in 19:11. The battle for second place was a nail-biter, with Kenya's Sharon Chepkemoi clocking 19:46 to edge out Elvanie Nimbona of Burundi by a single second. Valentina Gemetto was the leading Italian athlete, securing fourth place with a time of 20:19.

Ethiopian Double as Fikadu and Gebrehiwet Triumph in Allonnes

Milkesa Fikadu and Tirhas Gebrehiwet overcame challenging, wet conditions to secure an Ethiopian sweep at the Cross International Le Maine Libre-Allonnes-Sarthe, a World Athletics Cross Country Tour Gold meeting.

Fikadu, 20, improved on his third-place finish from last year, navigating the muddy 6.71km course in 21:12. In the women's race over the same distance, 18-year-old Gebrehiwet claimed victory in 24:05. While the severe weather meant full results were not immediately available, the wins for Fikadu and Gebrehiwet were decisive.

French athletes secured the runner-up positions in both contests. Fikadu produced a strong finish to hold off Yann Schrub, while Gebrehiwet finished five seconds clear of Alessia Zarbo.

The podiums also featured familiar faces from last year's event. Fikadu's compatriot Abrha Gebru and Kazakhstan's 2022 world steeplechase champion Norah Jeruto, both of whom finished fourth in 2022, each improved by one position to claim third place in their respective races.