Burundi one-two in Amorebieta cross country as Amebaw wins women's race
Ntakarutimana and Sindayikengdera take the top two places in the men's race. Niyomukunzi finishes second behind Amebaw in the women's race.
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Burundi took the top two places in the men's race at the Amorebieta cross country in Spain on Sunday 18 October. Egide Ntakarutimana won alone ahead of Elie Sindayikengdera, with Kenya's Peter Rono completing the podium. In the women's race, Ethiopia's Likina Amebaw won ahead of Burundi's Francine Niyomukunzi and Kenya's Mirriam Cherop.
Both races were run over 8.7 kilometres. The meeting is a Gold-level event on the international cross country circuit, a running competition held on natural terrain. The winners built their leads in two different ways, without waiting for a group sprint to settle first place.
Ntakarutimana goes solo, Sindayikengdera fights back for second
Ntakarutimana attacked from the opening metres. His first kilometre, covered in 2 min 37 s, had already left him clear at the front. He had a lead of twenty-two seconds at the end of the first big loop, then kept a margin over his chasers.
The battle for second place lasted longer. Rono was ahead of Sindayikengdera going into the final lap. The Burundian eventually passed the Kenyan on the long home straight. Ntakarutimana finished in 25 min 18 s, Sindayikengdera in 25 min 48 s and Rono in 25 min 53 s: thirty seconds separated the top two, then five seconds the second and third.
Niyomukunzi secures second behind Amebaw
In the women's race, Niyomukunzi took over at the front after the early running was made by Eritrea's Rahel Daniel. Amebaw initially stayed in the pack before accelerating during the second loop. Her lead then grew to twenty-four seconds over Niyomukunzi, Cherop and Dorcus Chepkwemoi.
Amebaw won in 28 min 41 s. Behind her, Niyomukunzi pulled away from Cherop in the last four hundred metres to finish in 29 min 12 s, five seconds ahead of the Kenyan. The Burundian therefore keeps a podium place, while Amebaw adds a third win to her victories of 2023 and 2025.
Our preview of the women's contenders before the race explained what was at stake in the Amebaw–Niyomukunzi duel. The result highlights two key moments: the Ethiopian's acceleration for the win, then the Burundian's finish to hold off Cherop.