Slovenia's Sonja Roman takes the win at the Amora Cross (© Marcelino Almeida)
Lisbon, PortugalScott Overall of Great Britain and Slovenia's Sonja Roman took victories at the Amora Cross on Sunday (21).
In men's event, Overall, Great Britain’s reigning 5000m champion, was the surprise winner of this race, but his win was very hard and only came to be in the final sprint, where he took the lead from Ricardo Mateus, the first under-23 runner to claim a spot on Portuguese Cross Country team, and Kenyan Peter Kiplagat, who was 17th in last year’s Lisbon Half Marathon.
“This was a good test for me,” Overall said. “I want to produce a good indoor season but I intend to be in a good shape next weekend for the British trials for the European Cross Country Championships.
“This was the best result I could wish for in this race,” said Mateus. “I intended to achieve a place on the Portuguese team, but I didn’t expect to be the best Portuguese. So, being second overall was a great achievement.” Mateus is coached by Bernardo Manuel, the former coach of Rui Silva, Portugal’s Olympic, World and European 1500m medallist.
In the women’s event, Slovenia’s Roman was the convincing winner. She crossed the line alone, far ahead of runner-up Viktoriya Pohoryelska from Ukraine, and Portugal’s Carla Salome Rocha. Portuguese Daniela Cunha led for the first three kilometres ahead of Roman, but by mistake, thought she was coming into the final lap snd turned it on. After that, she never forced the pace. However, she will be on the Portuguese team for the European championships.
“This wasn’t a hard race,” said Roman, the reigning European indoor 1500m bronze medallist. “I thought I would face Jessica Augusto and Sara Moreira, but they were not expected here and so, I made my race. My legs are not relaxed because I’m in the middle of a one month training programme in Algarve (Vila Real de Santo Antonio) and I will not racing in the European Cross Country Championship. I’m targeting the indoor season, where I intend to achieve another medal.”
António Manuel Fernandes for the IAAF
Leading Results -
Men (8 km):
1. Scott Overall, GBR 24.56
2. Ricardo Mateus, POR 24.57
3. Peter Kiplagat, KEN 24.59
4. Mariusz Gizynski, POL 25.25
5. Luís Pinto, POR 25.34
6. Marten Bostrom, FIN 25.42
Women (5 km):
1. Sonja Roman, SLO 17.26
2. Viktoriya Pohoryelska, UKR 17.34
3. Carla Rocha, POR 17.37
4. Daniela Cunha, POR 17.54
5. Ercília Machado, POR 18.01
6. Carla Martinho, POR 18.10
