Moses Mosop winner of the 28th Almond Blossom International (© P. Costa)
Albufeira, PortugalThe 28th Almond Blossom International International - IAAF permit – cross country yesterday returned to its original circuit in Albufeira, where it began 29 years ago. After eight years in Vilamoura and one year (2004) without competition due to lack of financial support, the organisers had to work very hard to revive the race back in the Algarve (Sun 30 Jan).
MEN: An African story
The athletes had to run a 10km race divided into five laps of 2km each. At the end of the first lap, the leading group was all African, and very soon the Kenyans Moses Mosop and Peter Kamais took a joint lead followed by their more illustrious colleague John Kibowen, the former double World Cross short race champion, and the Ethiopian Bado Worku, 17, the World Junior 5000m track silver medallist.
However, Mosop and Kamais were not prepared to be intimidated by Kibowen’s reputation, and especially the young Mosop, 19, pushed as hard as possible on the last lap to open up an increasing margin over his pursers, breaking away from Kamais in the process. Mosop eventually crossed the finish line in 27:49, with a large margin of victory over the rest who were by then split apart in single file. Kamais was second (28:09), Worku, third (28:44) and Kibowen, fourth (28:55).
“The race was very difficult,“ confirmed Mosop. “A lot of wind and sand made the journey very hard. But, I tried to push and stay in front all the time. Then, on the last lap, I went alone and I finished first, as I wanted to.”
WOMEN: Kiprop takes a grip on the race from the start
In the women’s race, Nancy Kiprop of Kenya took the early initiative and stayed at the front of the lead pack nearly all the time from 'gun to tape', with her various opponents one by one dropping off, not being able to sustain the same relentless pace.
Kiprop was at first accompanied by Portugal’s Fernanda Ribeiro, Ana Dias and Inês Monteiro but by the middle of the 6km circuit their challenge had given way to more persistent opposition from Kiprop’s country woman Tegla Loroupe, the former three-time winner of the World Half marathon title, who tried to seriously discuss first place with her.
However, Kiprop despite such a notable and persistent challenger prevailed and crossed the finish in 19:35, five seconds ahead of Loroupe, with Ribeiro third in 19:41.
“It was not a difficult course, because I’m used to this kind of circuit. I had only prepared one week for this race, so it’s a fantastic result,” confirmed Kiprop.
Fernanda Ribeiro, winner in 2003, had a different opinion about the course: “I was training here and when I saw the course I was very disappointed, because of the sand. I told my coach that this is not my type of cross country. I’m presently training for the Marathon, next April 24 in Hamburg.” Nevertheless, “I came and tried to do my best. To be third in Algarve, after being second so many times and winning in 2003, it’s very good. I’m glad I came.”
Last minute preparations
Given the short time the organsiers had to bring the event back to the Algarve, the preparedness of course left something to be desired. In some areas there was grass missing which had to covered with sand something which many athletes, not just Ribeiro didn’t enjoy that much. However, overall the head of the organising committee Lara Ramos was happy to have been able to have given new life to the mystic of the Almond Blossom event, which attracted a large crowd of spectators despite the cold and windy conditions.
Paulo Costa for the IAAF
Results
Men’s race (10km)
1 Moses Mosop KEN 27:49
2 Peter Kamais KEN 28:09
3 Badi Worku ETH 28:44
4 John Kibowen KEN 28:55
5 Zembaba Yegezu ETH 28:56
6 Vicent Krop KEN 29:01
7 Sammy Tum KEN 29:16
8 Khalidel Aamri MAR 29:36
9 Fernando Silva POR 29:38
10 Alfredo Brás POR 29:40
Women’s race (6km)
1 Nancy Kiprop KEN 19:35
2 Tegla Loroupe KEN 19:40
3 Fernanda Ribeiro POR 19:41
4 Ana Dias POR POR 19:46
5 Inês Monteiro POR 19:55
6 Cristina Casandra ROM 19:59
7 Carla Sacramento POR 20:05
8 Justyna Bak POL 20:08
9 Mónica Rosa POR 20:26
10 Helena Sampaio POR 20:42
