Sergey Lebid strong in
snow and mud
Ronny Ceuleers for the IAAF
23 December 2001 - Brussels, Belgium - On Sunday, the course of the “Brussels Iris Crosscup” looked like a Christmas card. Snow covered the hilly paths and athletes were finding their way under a mild sun. The combination of both elements made the race extra difficult, because some stretches in the shade were almost like ice and other - lower - parts saw slushy snow becoming more and more muddy. But still the best prevailed.
In the women’s race the African stars took immediately the lead. Merima Dendoba, Edith Masai and Susan Chepkemei broke away. Only the former Ethiopian Elvan Abeylegesse - just two weeks earlier becoming European junior champion running for Turkey - tried to follow. She paid for this effort later in the race and finished eighth.
European champion Yamna Belkacem (France) started not so fast, but by halfway she joined the three leaders, together with Portugese Helena Sampaio. These five battled it out in the final straight. Edith Masai was the fastest before Dendoba and Chepkemei. The two Europeans took four and five. The home crowd were pleased to see Belgian Anja Smolders finishing within the top ten. She was ninth, just like last year. Winner Edith Masai surprised herself because she had never before run on snow.
The men’s race was the race of European Champion and vice-world champion Sergey Lebid (his name is spelled Lebid in Ukrainian and Lebed in Russian, he told us). Although he did not immediately take the lead, he controlled the race. The Ethiopian newcomer Sileshi Sihen went for it, but Lebid followed, went in front for some metres, the Ethiopian reacted, but Lebid did not insist and just stayed behind. He did the same when Kenyan James Kipketer joined the lead.
The Ethiopian had to give way, dropping finally to 8th place, so Lebid and Kipketer went out in front.
“I didn’t’ have to attack”, Lebid said after the race. “The race went just the way I wanted and although I was sure I could finish it off in the sprint, I increased the speed in the last lap, and it was altogether an easy win.”
The Ukrainian - who has competed four consecutive years in Brussels, finishing 37th, 11th, 4th and now first - was even surprised to hear that in 2004 the world championships will be held on the same course. It was clear that he liked the news.
In the final part of the race Dutchman Kamiel Maase (vice European champion in Thun two weeks earlier) took third place. Also Paulo Guerra (running 7th and 6th during the greater part of the race) came up to take fourth place and Briton Sam Haughian even won five places in the last two laps, finishing fifth.
Belgian World champion Mohammed Mourhit lightly sprained his ankle in the first lap, and being not yet in great shape - as he admitted - he continued the race running very cautiously, not wanting to disappoint his home crowd by abandoning, he finished 20th, only the 5th Belgian.