World cross-country champion Beatrice Chebet has said she is satisfied with her Spanish tour following her commanding victory at the Cross Internacional Juan Muguerza – a World Athletics Cross Country Tour Gold meeting – in the Spanish town of Elgoibar on Sunday.
Chebet lived up to her status as pre-race favourites by peeling away from the chasing pack in the closing stages despite the grueling conditions necessitated by the rain that created a muddy surface.
“It was tough as the rain appeared just before the race but I'm satisfied with my Spanish tour as I managed a world record and my first win at such a prestigious race like this,” said Chebet, whose next race will be in Eldoret on February 3 before she turns her attention to defending her world cross-country title in Belgrade.
The newly-minted world 5km record-holder took command of the women's 7.62km race from the start and covered the opening lap on the track in 1:18 with just compatriots Edinah Jebitok and Grace Nawowuna plus Ethiopia's Asmarech Anley for company.
British trio Lauren Hall, Sarah Astin and Niamh Brown were three seconds behind while Spain’s Irene Sánchez-Escribano, Carolina Robles and Isabel Barreiro ran another couple of seconds adrift.
Chebet's relentless pace – 3:19 and 3:21 for the first two kilometres on a far-from-ideal circuit – soon paid off and Anley could not live with that pace, leaving the Kenyan contingent as a lead trio out in front.
Chebet gradually increased her speed and clocked 7:02 for the penultimate lap, but 2021 Elgoibar winner Jebitok and Nawowuna remained at her shoulder.
Just before the bell, Nawowuna – who finished fourth at last year’s World Cross – briefly took the lead, but Chebet soon regained pole position. A struggling Anley, meanwhile, was overtaken on the last lap by the leading British and Spanish runners.
The key move came with one kilometre remaining when Chebet broke away from her compatriots to cover the final lap in 6:54, securing her first victory in Elgoibar in what was her third appearance.
Jebitok dropped Nawowuna in the final kilometre to finish second, two seconds behind Chebet. Much further back, Britain’s Brown claimed fourth place.
