Could it be any closer? Eunice Jepkorir (l) edges Vivian Cheruiyot in Alcobendas (© Pedro Velarde)
Kenya's Joseph Ebuya was the convincing victor in the 26th ‘Cross Internacional de la Constitución’ – EAA Permit - held this afternoon in the outskirts of Madrid on a sunny and nice (12ºC) winter day. The 20-year-old rising distance star has now accomplished three victories in a row at cross country following his wins in Llodio (18 November) and Soria (25 Nov). Ebuya got the better of fellow Kenyan Hosea Macharinyang while Eunice Jepkorir had written the first chapter of the Kenyan success today by taking a thrilling sprint finish victory narrowly ahead of compatriot Vivian Cheruiyot.
Ebuya in full command
Immediately after the 10,100m race started the mighty Kenyan squad soon made it clear they were the strongest in the field. Right from the gun it was Ebuya who took charge of the race closely followed by his country-mates. No less than ten men were still in contention by the third kilometre, with the only surprise name of Eritrea’s late addition Issak Sibhatu, who came sixth in the junior race at this year’s World Cross Country Championships in Mombasa.
As it already happened in his last two appearances on Spanish soil the still 20-year-old Ebuya confirmed his status as one of the leading Cross Country specialists so far this season. Significantly, all the athletes who made up the top of the race seemed to be fully aware of who the ‘boss’ was as Ebuya was never headed and only Macharinyang dared to take turns with him for a while.
Ebuya’s frantic rhythm (7:14 for the penultimate 2500m loop) paid dividends and by the seventh kilometre only his compatriots Macharinyang, Abraham Chebii and Kiprono Menjo could live with his pace but the latter two seemed to be in trouble. The last lap became an Ebuya-Macharinyang face-to-face and the former took advantage of his awesome form and his track pedigree (5000m PB of 12:51.00) to unleash a devastating final kick with 300 downhill metres left to build a 15m gap over the Mombasa Worlds 5th place finisher.
Ebuya romped home in style with a 29:08 clocking for Macharinyang’s 29.10 while Chebii – a 2001 winner here – completed a clean sweep of medals for Kenya 11 seconds behind the winner. There was a tight finish to take fourth with Menjo prevailing over Sibhatu.
A satisfied Ebuya declared: “I felt really strong throughout the race and three consecutive wins is a fantastic haul.” Asked on whether he considers himself a medal bet for the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Edinburgh next March, a cautious Ebuya replied: “Maybe, maybe”. On his track summer plans the reigning World junior 10,000m champion - and 5000m bronze – commented that the 5000 and 3000m events will be his focus.
Jepkorir outsprints Cheruiyot
The women’s event featured a more than interesting showdown between two medallists from last summer’s World Championships in Osaka in the guise of the Kenyan pair of Vivian Cheruiyot and Eunice Jepkorir, silver over 5000m and bronze in the 3000m Steeplechase, respectively. The only other world class contender was Eritrea’s Simret Sultan but the partially Spain-based athlete, a ninth finisher in Mombasa, simply could not follow the Kenyans pace from the opening stages.
To the delight of the crowd the 24-year-old Cheruiyot - the second fastest woman ever over 5000m - performed much more brilliantly than she did a fortnight ago in Llodio but even so Jepkorir pulled away from her twice during the race with advantages of no less than 40m. However, on both occasions Cheruiyot managed to gradually reduce the gap and finally catch Jepkorir.
The outcome of the race promised to be full of excitement and it let nobody down. Jepkorir entered the final 100m as a virtual winner although closely followed by her rival who passed Jepkorir with 50m to go but it was not to be the last change of leader, as Jepkorir pipped Cheruiyot over the finish line by the narrowest of the margins, both athletes being credited the same time, 19:40, while Sultan came a distant thirrd some 47 seconds adrift of the first two.
“Wow, such final metres!” Jepkorir said. “Vivian and I sprinted together and I was lucky to win. My victory was everything but easy. I will now return to Kenya and hopefully I’ll be on the Kenyan team for Edinburgh.” On her summer plans she said: “I would like to make the podium in Beijing and run inside 9:10 in my specialist event.”
Emeterio Valiente for the IAAF
Leading Results:
Men (10,100m):
1. Joseph Ebuya (Ken) 29:08
2. Hosea Macharinyang (Ken) 29:10
3. Abraham Chebii (Ken) 29:19
4. Kiprono Menjo (Ken) 29:37
5. Issak Sibhatu (Eri) 29:38
6. Alemayehu Bezabeh (Eth) 29:47
7. Mark Kiptoo (Esp) 29:53
8. Ali Abdallah (Eri) 29:54
9. Ayad Lamdasem (Esp) 30:16
10. Cuthbert Nyasango (Zim) 30:19
Women (5900m):
1. Eunice Jepkorir (Ken) 19:40
2. Vivian Cheruiyot (Ken) 19:40
3. Simret Sultan (Eri) 20:27
4. Jacqueline Martín (Esp) 20:40
5. Esther Desviat (Esp) 20:57
6. Azucena Díaz (Esp) 21:00
7. María Abel (Esp) 21:01
8. Analia Rosa (Por) 21:06
9. Soud Kambouchia (Mar) 21:12
10. Marina Bastos (Por) 21:24
