Imane Jida wins the 2008 Cross de L'Acier in Leffrinckoucke, France (© G Laridan)
Leffrinckoucke, FranceEthiopian athletes swept all before them during the 17th edition of Cross de L'Acier, an EAA XC Permit meeting, held on Sunday 30 November in Leffrinckoucke, northern France.
The winner of the men's race last year, Imane Jida retained his title, while his female team mates, led by Abebu Gelan, took the first four places.
MEN
Kenyan Mike Kipruto Kigen was looking for revenge following the 2007 edition of this race, when having led most of the race, Ethiopia's Imane Jida surged away from him to win by a mere 3 seconds.
This year, in cold conditions, the scenario repeated itself. The 22-year-old Kenyan, a 5000m specialist with a personal best of 12:58.58, who was a 5th place finisher in the long course contest at the 2005 World XC, controlled the race by inflicting several accelerations in pace, which discouraged all his opponents but Jida.
The Ethiopian, 20, must have been comforted by the Kenyan's tactic, as it mimicked what had occurred in 2007, and so it wasn't until the last lap of the 9.85km circuit that Jida confidently made his decisive attack. This time, Jida's margin of victory was seven seconds over Kigen.
In a late effort, Briton Mo Farah, winner here in 2006, passed several runners but couldn't place higher than 4th, finishing between two other Ethiopians, Bane Tola (3rd) and Salhe Betona (5th).
National squad is selected
This race served as a selection event for the French team for the European XC Champs in Brussels (14 December). Driss El Himer, fighting flu, couldn't confirm his current good shape as he took 11th place overall, just behind Hassan Lahssini, 10th who was the first French finisher. Both runners, with Bouabdallah Tahri (not running yesterday) will probably lead the French squad and will target the team gold in Brussels.
WOMEN
The Ethiopian women were surprisingly cautious earlier in the afternoon, making a point not to lead their race early on. As such, France’s Christelle Dauney and Maria Martins were left to make the race for the first laps of the 5.75km circuit.
The first serious move in the race came when in the penultimate lap, the Portuguese Dulce Anna-Felix tried to open a gap but was then passed by no less than four Ethiopians.
In the end Abebu Gelan, 18, who was 4th here last year, took her first significant international win, over Emebet Bedada, who repeated her second place from 2007.
Sisters Mimi and Almensh Belete took 3rd and 4th place, respectively. Martins (8th) was the best French runner ahead of Yamna Oubouhou (9th).
P-J Vazel for the IAAF
MEN
1. Imane Jida (ETH) 28:15
2. Mike Kigen (KEN) 28:22
3. Bane Tola (ETH) 28:27
4. Mo farah (GBR) 28:28
5. Salhe Betona (ETH) 29:07
WOMEN
1. Abebu Gelan (ETH) 18:20
2. Emebet Bedada (ETH) 18:25
3. Mimi Belete (ETH) 18:28
4. Almesh Belete (ETH) 18:35
5. Dulce Anna-Felix (ETH) 18:37
Full Results (coming soon) at http://crossdelacier.free.fr/resultats.php
