Amora, Portugal - Portugual's Inês Monteiro and Festus Langat of Kenya won today’s 15th Amora International Cross Country - EAA permit – race in front of 4000 spectators. The heavy rain which caused great problems on the course last year happily stayed away in 2004, and conditions were near perfect.

Monteiro “suffers twice” for victory

The women’s race was composed of two and a half laps making up the 5km course. Helena Sampaio controlled the race for a while but quickly two other Portuguese runners Jessica Augusto and Inês Monteiro took over the leading positions.

However, as Monteiro confirmed after the race she quickly decided to take the initiative alone and with an enormous effort powered away for the win crossing the finish line in 16:01, just getting the better of Jessica Augusto (16:06), with Helena Sampaio a lot further back (16:50).

“I already knew that I would suffer a lot during this event”, said Monteiro, “as this is my first cross of the season. I really expected some problems and because of that I tried to control the race and to lead it at a fast rhythm. I felt I was not as strong as I would like to be in the final metres but fortunately that didn’t prevent me from winning”.
 
Monteiro a national road race champion also stated “cross country is quite different from the road running. To run cross country you have to suffer twice as much for the same distance.”

Her next goal is the European Cross Country Championships in Germany, 12 December. “The qualification started today, and I’m still far from my best. But I will be able to recover and find my shape for the next event”, she added.

Langat takes men’s race win

The men’s race was contested over five laps – 10km. No one was prepared to risk a dramatic bid for the lead in the early stages. The eventual winner Kenyan Festus Langat waited patiently for his moment to strike, as he had to deal with two strong opponents, Ricardo Ribas and Paulo Gomes of Portugal. But when Langat did break away at about 5km, he was unstoppable.

Langat crossed first in 28:22), with Ribas second (28:38) and Gomes third (28:42). 

After the race, Langat explained that he intended “to run faster at the beginning but decided instead to stay with the Portuguese runners.” Then, at the middle of the race “I took the lead. I’m quite happy because the course is good and I came first.”

Important national sporting event

Amora International Cross Country is one of the most important sporting events in the region. The race started in 1990 and after ten years of growth became an international event, becoming part of the EAA Permit Meeting circuit, and is now one of Portugal’s top meetings.

As Carlos Cardoso, IAAF Cross Country and Road Running Committee member analysed - “this is a fantastic place that gathers the ideal conditions for the cross country running...It doesn't have many heavy up and downs, but still the course is able to test and erode the athletes energy.”    

1. Inês Monteiro POR 16:01
2. Jessica Augusto POR 16:06
3. Helena Sampaio POR 16:50
4. Marisa Barros POR 17:12
5. Sandra Teixeira POR 17:36
6. Carla Martinho POR 17:38
7. Rita Simões POR 17:41
8. Filipa Coelho POR 17:46
9. Mónica Silva POR 18:01
10. Vanda Ribeiro POR 18:36

Men, 10km

1. Festus Langat KEN 28:22
2. Ricardo Ribas POR 28:38
3. Paulo Gomes POR 28:42
4. Leão Carvalho POR 29:04
5. João Junqueira POR 29:06
6. Hélder Ornelas POR 29:07
7. Jorge Robalo POR 29:07
8. Youssf El Kalai MAR 29:09
9. Delfim Conceição POR 29:10
10. Manuel Magalhães POR 29:25