8th ‘Cross Internacional de Atapuerca’: IAAF Cross Country Permit Series 2011/12 - Athletics news
Reigning World Cross Country champion, Imane Merga of Ethiopia, won the 8th ‘Cross Internacional de Atapuerca’ event in a brilliant time of 27 minutes and 21 seconds, over the 9.807 km course, on November 13, in Atapuerca, Spain.
The women’s category of 7.839 km course was won by Linet Masai of Kenya in a magnificent time of 24 minutes and 20 seconds. The second spot was secured by Ethiopia’s Belaynesh Oljira, who covered the distance in 24 minutes and 42 seconds. Oljira was followed
by Priscah Jeptoo of Kenya, who completed the course in a timeline of 24 minutes and 52 seconds for the third position.
Masai, after winning the contest, said, “Today was my cross country debut this season and honestly I didn’t know how I was going to perform. Anyway, my only target this campaign is the Olympic Games next summer. ”
The men’s race seemed exciting from the very start, as Ethiopian athlete, Humegnaw Mesfin and Eritrean runner, Kidane Tadese, took charge and inducted a steady pace to complete the 3000m distance in 8 minutes and 30 seconds.
Merga kept a consistent pace and ran in the middle of the nine-man leading pack. One kilometre later, front runners which included Mesfin, Tadese and Merga were seen in a battle for the lead. Kenyan pair of Vincent Chepkok and Mike Kiptoo also followed the
lead pack by a distance of some metres.
The leading runners reached the 5000m mark in a time of 13 minutes and 55 seconds. The final 2000m lap seemed to be a decisive one, as Ethiopian pair of Mesfin and Merga commanded the pace. Nonetheless, Tadese was also a strong contender in the game.
After severe competition in the final stages of the race, Merga prevailed with just a fraction difference over Tadese. Merga finished the distance and clocked a time of 27 minutes and 21 seconds to secure the win.
The second spot was taken by Kidane Tadese in a well-attained time line of 27 minutes and 22 seconds. Tadese was followed by Humegnaw Mesfin, who took the third position in a time of 27 minutes and 24 seconds. Winner of the world title in Punta Umbria, Merga
said, “I was always confident of my final sprint, so I decided to wait and see throughout the race and fortunately it paid off.”
The race was a sheer entertainer, as the performers made no error in heating up the competition. Both athletes are sure to elevate into the line of elite long distance runners if they continue with the same consistency in their performances.
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