Listen to This Article Enhance your reading experience by listening to this article.

Kenya’s Edinah Jebitok and Maurine Jemutai will be in action when she returns to this season’s Cross Internacional de Venta de Banos gold leg of the World Athletics Cross Country Tour on Sunday, December 17, 2023.

Jebitok will battle her compatriot Jemutai, who enjoys a 1:08:55 half-marathon career best and should also be in contention. Jemutai also finished second in Cantimpalos and first in Amurrio.

Jebitok is the winner of the race in 2021 and is among the women who will be contesting for the trophy this year again. Jebitok, having completed the 9.3km race 69 seconds ahead of her nearest rival, is a clear favourite.

At the World Cross Country Championship in Barthust, Jebitok finished eighth and then set personal bests of 4:02.00 for 1500m and 14:52.28 for 5000m.

She was the winner of the San Sebastien Cross Country Race on November 5, and she carries hopes from this race to Venta de Banos on Sunday. The 22-year-old had a thrilling sprint to outclass Ethiopia’s Senayet Getachew to win in Seville.

Jebitok, Jemutai’s rivals

Jebitok’s top rival on Sunday is expected to be Asayech Ayichew, as the Ethiopian will be making her third outing in Spain. She finished runner-up in Soria and Alcobendas in November and will be hoping to win her first Cross Country title this season.

Katie Izzo of USA is also another strong contender, as she finished second at the ‘Cross Champs’ in Austin last month and holds a 15:13.09 5000m indoor lifetime best.

Cristina Ruiz and Marta Garcia are Spain’s flagbearers. Ruiz placed 13th at the recent European Cross Country Championships in Brussels, and Garcia finished fourth in Soria in November and 36th in Brussels.