Kiprono Menjo from Kenya on his way to victory in the Almond Blossom Cross Country (© LOC)
Spanish teams took an historic double with victories in the men’s and women’s team contests at the European Cross Country Clubs Cup. The competition was held as part of the running of the 31st edition of the Almond Blossom Cross Country in Açoteias, Algarve on Saturday (2).
The Spanish teams in the guise of Adidas (Men), the winner of past six editions, and Valencia Terra y Mar (Women), were dominant over a field of 25 European clubs.
MEN
In the men’s event, the winner was Kiprono Menjo from Kenya, who was the eighth place finisher over 10,000m at Osaka World Champs. Menjo, 28, who was running as an individual guest, took the initiative from the start and won some eight seconds ahead of Ayad Lamdassem. The Spanish runner was the first man home for the Adidas team and so he was crowned the individual European Cross Country Clubs Cup winner. Spanish athletes took four of the first seven places in the Cup competition and their seventh overall team win.
Carlos Castillejo was the third man across the finish line, ahead of the first Portuguese, Rui Pedro Silva, who led his team to second place in the team competition. In third place came the Italian club of Fiamme Gialle.
Portuguese “veteran” Eduardo Henriques who like Menjo was running as a guest, finished fifth overall.
The overall winner Menjo has had a very good start to the year. As well as today's victory the Kenyan has won the ‘San Silvestre Vallecana’ in Madrid on New Year’s Eve and then taking a fine cross country win in San Sebastián on 27 January.
WOMEN
In the women’s event, there was a great run from the Russian Maria Konovalova, who crossed the finish line six seconds ahead of Almitu Bekele, who was representing the Turkish champions, Besiktas. In third place came the Portuguese Jessica Augusto, who finished with a strong sprint to help her team, Maratona.
The Spanish team Valencia Terra y Mar, who had the help of Portugual’s Fernanda Ribeiro, who was fifth, took the team title 10 points ahead of Turkey’s Besiktas and the Portuguese champions, Maratona.
Kenyan Eunice Chepkorir, running as an individual guest took sixth place overall.
With great weather and good competition, the Almond Blossom Cross Country is back to great days!
António Manuel Fernandes for the IAAF
Results
Men
1. Kiprono Menjo, KEN, guest 29:08
2. Ayad Lamdassen, ESP, 29:16
3. Carlos Castillejo, ESP, 29:18
4. Rui Pedro Silva, POR, 29:20
5. Eduardo Henriques, POR, guest 29:28
6. Ricardo Ribas, POR 29:37
7. Anos Selmoni, TUR, 29:38
8. Alberto Garcia, ESP, 29:46
Teams
1. Adidas, ESP 16 points
2. Maratona, POR 28
3. Fiamme Gialle, 53
Women
1. Maria Konovalova, RUS 19:03
2. Almitu Bekele, TUR 19:09
3. Jessica Augusto, POR 19:22
4. Rosa Morató, ESP 19:31
5. Fernanda Ribeiro, POR 19:32
6. Eunice Chepkorir, KEN, guest 19:39
7. Zhor El Kamch, MAR 19:41
8. Julia Collaud, FRA 19:43
Teams
1. Valencia, ESP 33 points
2. Besiktas, TUR 43
3. Maratona, POR 43
