Edinah Jebitok scooped her third Gold-level victory of the season in the World Athletics Cross Country Tour in the challenging conditions of the Energyvision CrossCup Hannut in Belgium.
Racing on a snow-covered 9km course, Jebitok dominated the competition, finishing in 31 minutes and one second. Pamela Kosgei, another Kenyan athlete, claimed the second spot with a time of 31 minutes and 40 seconds.
Despite the freezing temperatures, Jebitok set an early break from her competitors, leaving Kosgei and Faith Chepkoech behind. The pace she set soon stretched the field, with Kosgei maintaining her position in second place. Britain’s Megan Keith made a strong surge after 20 minutes, surpassing Chepkoech to secure the third spot.
However, Jebitok’s commanding performance secured her a comfortable victory, crossing the finish line in 31:01. Kosgei finished second in 31:40, while Keith took third place in 31:48. Chepkoech settled for fourth with a time of 32:34.
In the men’s race, Kibet Kandie led the Kenyan contingent with a third-place finish, as Rwandese athlete Yves Nimubona claimed victory and Mehrawi Mebratu of Ethiopia secured second place. At the halfway mark, Nimubona, Mebrahtu, and Kandie formed a lead trio, breaking away from the rest of the field. While Kandie dropped back, Nimubona stayed close to Mebrahtu.
With 22 minutes on the clock, Mebrahtu took the lead, and by the final lap, Kandie was out of contention for victory but maintained a comfortable lead over the pursuing pack. In the closing minutes, Nimubona reclaimed the lead and won the race in 28:29. Mebrahtu finished just one second behind, and Kandie secured third place in 28:42, narrowly fending off a fast-finishing Santiago Catroffe from Uruguay.
The challenging weather conditions added an extra layer of difficulty to the cross-country competition, but Jebitok and Nimubona showcased their resilience and skill to emerge as the victors in their respective races.
