Sergey Lebid victorious in Tourcoing (© Pierre Jean Vazel)
Roncq’s Cross Country in Tourcoing (IAAF Permit) was held in a fresh but dry weather after several wet days, which prepared a favourable course for cross country specialists.
While five-time European Cross Country champion Sergiy Lebid of Ukraine dominated the Kenyan armada and cruised to victory, pre-event favourite Isabella Ochichi suffered an unexpected defeat in the women’s race. The silver Olympic medallist was out-sprinted by her compatriot and marathon specialist Susan Chepkemei in the very last metres.
A narrow win for Susan Chepkemei
Local runners Maria Martins and Zahia Dahmani opened the race at a fast pace for the pleasure of their public, but Isabella Ochichi assumed her great favourite status by taking an early lead from her Kenyan team-mates Susan Chepkemei, Nancy Omwenga and Genoveva Kigen.
As soon as the first kilometre was covered, Ochichi put the pressure on her rivals with a first acceleration, the aim of which was to reduce the pack to a little dozen of athletes.
The last non-Kenyan to resist solidely was Algeria’s Samira Chellah, who will eventually succumb to Ochichi’s second acceleration.
The Olympic silver medallist seemed to have the race in her hands, controlling the pace and testing her oponents. This tactict had no effect on Chepkemei who was patiently waiting for the final kick.
Ochichi tried a final acceleration with one lap to go, which opened a definitive gap between the two leaders and the rest of the field. They entered in the last straight of the 3 laps and a half circuit shoulder to shoulder with Chepkemei narrowly prevailing at the photo-finish.
The winner declared: “I am very happy, the last time I raced her, she won, and now it’s my turn.”
A delighted Ochichi commented: “It was a very good race; I almost won so I’m very happy”.
No opposition for Sergiy Lebid
A very imposing Kenyan team dominated the race in the first kilometres, with Shadrack Kosgei, Bernard Chepkok, Moses Mosop, Stanley Mururi and Richard Limo making the pace.
10 minutes after the gun, Ukrainian Sergiy Lebid, who recentely won his 5th European Cros Country title, emerged and joined the leading pack which also included 10,000m runner Abdullah Hassan. Wilson Boit Kipketer, former Olympic medallist at 3000m Steeplechase, was never a factor in the race.
Halfway through the race, Lebid, who said his morning warm-up indicated tired legs, showed signs of fatigue as he would loose several metres after each hill. Winner of 2003 edition, Lebid already knew the specificities of this technical circuit.
While the head of the race lost several sore runners, Lebid chose to accelerate with 20 minutes on the clock.
Mosop replied, followed by Kosgei and Chepkok, with Hassan well behind. Lebid’s long acceleration and early kick pulled the Kenyans progressively behind, and the Ukrainian closed the race unchallenged.
“I applied the same tactic as two years ago when I had my first victory here,” explained Lebid.
“I felt well in the last part of the race, so I tested my rivals, I made the effort and I won. There is everything I like here in Tourcoing, grass, sand, mud, all this makes it a real cross country race!”
Pierre Jean Vazel for the IAAF
Results
Men
1. Sergiy Lebid UKR 26:08
2. Shadrack Kosgei KEN 26:11
3. Moses Mosop KEN 26:13
4. Abdullah Hassan QAT 26:31
5. Bernard Chepkok KEN 26:45
6. Richard Limo KEN 27:00
7. Philip Korir KEN 27:10
8. Stanley Murui KEN 27:19
9. Driss Maazouzi FRA 27:21
10. Mustapha Oubassour FRA 27:23
Women
1. Susan Chepkemei KEN 17:47
2. Isabella Ochichi KEN 17:47
3. Lenah Cheruiyot KEN 18:00
4. Latifa Essarokh FRA 18:11
5. Samira Chellah ALG 18:20
6. Fatima Yvelain FRA 18:22
7. Maria Martins FRA 18:32
8. Nancy Omwenga KEN 18:49
9. Genoveva Kigen KEN 19:03
10. Rkia Chebili FRA 19:09
