Rodrigue Kwizera of Burundi and Kazakhstan’s Daisy Jepkemei celebrated significant wins on Sunday, October 27, at the Cross Internacional de Atapuerca, the second elite event in this year’s World Athletics Cross Country Tour. The races unfolded under rainy skies, adding a layer of challenge as both runners captured their first Atapuerca victories.
In the women’s 8km, Jepkemei, a steeplechase specialist with a 9:06.66 record, surged ahead from the start, facing initial pressure from Kenya’s Grace Nawowuna and Burundi’s France Niyomukunzi.
By the midway mark, Jepkemei and Nawowuna were well ahead, with Jepkemei edging out her rival in the final stretch to win by two seconds in 25:00. Niyomukunzi secured third place, while Spanish Olympian Carolina Robles took fourth.
The men’s 9km event saw local favorite Daniel Arce lead early with fellow Spaniard Adel Mechaal. Kwizera, along with Ugandan challengers Oscar Chelimo and Martin Kiprotich, soon moved ahead.
When Kwizera made his move in the final lap, only Chelimo and Kenya’s Mathew Kipsang could keep pace. Chelimo launched an attack, but Kwizera responded with a final burst, crossing the line in 25:37, two seconds ahead of Chelimo and comfortably clear of Kipsang.
Kwizera described the conditions as demanding but used the group to conserve energy before his decisive move. “I knew my attack had to come early since there were fast finishers,” he remarked.
RESULTS
Men (9km)
1 Rodrigue Kwizera (BDI) 25:37
2 Oscar Chelimo (UGA) 25:39
3 Mathew Kipsang (KEN) 25:46
4 Egide Ntakarutimana (BDI) 25:48
5 Martin Kiprotich (UGA) 25:50
6 Adel Mechaal (ESP) 26:11
7 Ayele Tadesse (ETH) 26:11
8 Efrem Gidey (IRL) 26:18
Women (8km)
1 Daisy Jepkemei (KZK) 25:00
2 Grace Nawowuna (KEN) 25:02
3 Francine Niyomukunzi (BDI) 26:18
4 Carolina Robles (ESP) 26:40
5 Elena Burkard (GER) 26:48
6 Mariana Machado (POR) 26:48
7 Águeda Marqués (ESP) 26:50
8 María Forero (ESP) 26:54
