The first stage of this season's World Athletics Cross Country Tour Gold was held in Zornotza, Spain, on Sunday. In the men's race, it was Burundi's Celestin Ndikumana who came out on top.He completed the 8.7km course in 25:34, finishing well ahead of Eritrea's Merhawi Mebrahtu (25:47) and Uganda's Leonard Chemutai (25:57).
"I already competed here last year and finished fifth. So to win today is wonderful, especially as this race has been won by many great champions in the past. I'm so proud to join them, I can't believe it," said the 23-year-old Burundian after the race.
Ethiopia's Likina Amebaw won the women's race in 29mn36s. She narrowly edged out her compatriot Lemlem Nibret (29mb38s) and Kenya's Lucy Mawia (30mn03s). "I'm over the moon," exclaimed Amebaw. "I've been training really hard for the last three months with this cross-country season in mind, where I'm hoping to achieve great things. Then I'll be racing in Atapuerca next Sunday," added the 25-year-old, who has been based in Spain since 2019.
