Amorebieta, Spain – Australia’s Benita Johnson came out on top in the clash of Reigning World Cross Country champions by beating Kenya’s Edith Masai in the 51th Cross Internacional Zornotza - EAA meeting - held today on a sunny and nice morning. Today’s was Johnson’s first ever European appearance on a cross country permit.

The showdown between the reigning long race World Cross Country champion Johnson and Masai, the short race World champion, didn’t let the crowd down as they came 1-2 and proved to be the strongest specialists on this surface. 6th in 2001, 4th in 2002 and 5th in 2003 in the 4km event, Johnson moved up to the long race in Brussels last year to snatch the World title.

Right from the start it was Britain’s European champion Hayley Yelling who made most of the early run closely followed by the rest of the favourites: her compatriot Kathy Butler, Johnson and the Kenyan trio of Masai, Alice Timbilil, Fridah Domongole.

Johnson takes lead at halfway mark

Yelling took charge of the race until halfway when Johnson and Masai went to the fore to rule the pace; shortly afterwards only Timbilil was able to stay in contention as the British duo started to fade.

Masai and Johnson took turns in the lead during the last lap and left Timbilil with ease before entering the last kilometre; it was then that the 24-year-old Johnson made her move and injected a lethal pace to which Masai could not respond. Johnson romped home in 22.27, five seconds clear of Masai, who beat third-placer Timbilil by three seconds.

The thrilling fight to be the first European home was won by Kathy Butler in 22.44 with a four-second margin over the European champion Yelling.

Confident to retain World title

Benita Johnson became the first non-African winner in Amorebieta since 1997; she declared: “I ran comfortably for the first three kilometres; then I tried to leave the others but it was not an easy task; fortunately, I pushed even harder in the last kilometre and managed to leave Masai.

“I’m extremely happy for my win. I now plan three or four more cross country races in Europe. It will be tough but I’m confident of retaining my World Cross Country title in France (St Galmier) in March.”

It became known after the race that the 37-year-old Masai ran hampered by flu and headache.

Untroubled Hassan

The men’s race witnessed an African party headed by Qatar’s Abdullah Ahmad Hassan. Formerly running for Kenya as Albert Chepkurui (he already won in 2003 under this name) Hassan, Uganda’s last year’s winner Boniface Kiprop and Tanzania’s Fabian Joseph built a wide gap on the rest of the field in the second half of the race.

Hassan broke away from Joseph and Kiprop in the final kilometre and crossed the finish line unopposed in 32:13, four seconds ahead of Joseph, himself another six seconds clear of Kiprop.

The effortless manner of his win suggests that Hassan could have run much faster if needed. 4th at last year Cross Country World Championships in the short race Hassan said: “Honestly, it has been an easy win for me; I felt great and had no problems in winning; I don’t like mud and today there was no mud, so it was great. I now return to Kenya to make endurance training and will fly back to Spain to compete at the end of January.”
 
Surprisingly, Australia’s Craig Mottram was never in the hunt for the victory and by halfway he already had no chances of winning; Reportedly, Mottram is in great shape but fell sick and had to take antibiotics prior to the event. He eventually came in 14th 1:43 behind Hassan.

Emeterio Valiente for the IAAF

Results
Men (10,700m)
1. Abdullah Ahmad Hassan (Qat) 32:13    
2. Fabiano Joseph (Tan) 32:17
3. Boniface Kiprop (Uga) 32:23             
4. Cutberth Nyasango (Zim) 32:51
5. José Ríos (Esp) 33:00
6. Andrew Letherby (Aus) 33:05
7. Mauricio Díaz (Chi) 33:12
8. Eliseo Martín (Esp) 33:13
9. Vicente Capitán (Esp) 33:17
10. Dieudonne Rissi (Rwa) 33:19

Women (6700m)
1. Benita Johnson (Aus) 22:23
2. Edith Masai (Ken) 22:28
3. Alice Timbilil (Ken) 22:31
4. Kathy Butler (Gbr) 22:45
5. Hayley Yelling (Gbr) 22:49
6. Helena Sampaio (Por) 23:07
7. Fridah Domongole (Ken) 23:09
8. Yesenia Centeno (Esp) 23:28
9. Rocío Ríos (Esp) 23:41
10. Sara Valderas (Esp) 23:52