Edinah Jebitok emerges top in World Athletics Cross Country Tour in Hannut
By Collins Amanga, January 22, 2024
Kenya’s Edinah Jebitok secured her third Gold-level victory in the World Athletics Cross Country Tour at the Energyvision CrossCup Hannut on Sunday, dominating the women’s 9km race.
Despite challenging conditions with snow covering the course, Jebitok asserted her dominance, taking the title with a 39-second lead.
Edinah Jebitok paces on
In the freezing weather, Jebitok quickly distanced herself from fellow Kenyan runners Pamela Kosgei and Faith Chepkoech, establishing an early lead.
As Jebitok continued to push the pace, the field behind her became stretched out. Kosgei maintained her second position, while Britain’s Megan Keith overtook Chepkoech to claim third place.
Jebitok crossed the finish line in 31:01, securing a comfortable victory. Kosgei finished as the runner-up in 31:40, eight seconds ahead of Keith. Chepkoech took fourth place with a time of 32:34.
Men’s race
In the men’s race, Yves Nimubona made history as the first Rwandan man to win at the Energyvision CrossCup Hannut. A five-man pack initially led the race, including Nimubona, Mebrahtu, Kibet Kandie, Guillaume Grimard, and Rogers Kibet.
By the halfway point, Nimubona, Mebrahtu, and Kandie had broken away to form a lead trio. While Kandie fell back, Nimubona and Mebrahtu maintained their positions at the front. As the bell rang, Nimubona regained the lead and secured the victory in 28:29.
Mebrahtu finished just one second behind, and Kandie took third place in 28:42, narrowly holding off a fast-finishing Santiago Catroffe from Uruguay by one second.
Leading results
Women (9km)
1 Edinah Jebitok (KEN) 31:01
2 Pamela Kosgei (KEN) 31:40
3 Megan Keith (GBR) 31:48
4 Faith Chepkoech (KEN) 32:34
5 Jana van Lent (BEL) 33:18
6 Lili Anna Vindics-Toth (HUN) 33:46