Birthday boy Kipsang wins second cross country race as young Jebet settles for silver
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Reading Time: 3min | Mon. 17.11.25. | 10:09
The Kenyan took his first victory last week when winning the Cardiff Cross Challenge
Kenya’s Mathew Kipsang marked his 30th birthday in style after grinding out a nervy win at the fourth Gold-level meeting of this season’s World Athletics Cross Country Tour - Cross Internacional de Soria – on Sunday, 16 November.
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Kipsang, a world 5,000m finalist, edged out three-time Soria champion Rodrigue Kwizera by a single second to win the Spanish race in a time of 23:10.
The Kenyan, who was seeking to build on his third-place finish at the same course last year, refused to let a slip on the downhill just before the home straight disrupt his progress, as he unleashed the superior track speed to breeze past the battling Burundian, who came second, clocking 23:11.
Kipsang sorprende en Valonsadero (Soria) y le arrebata la victoria al favorito Kwizera pic.twitter.com/N7fpFuTcI4
— EFE Castilla y León (@EFE_CyL) November 16, 2025
The dramatic finish was played out over the final 500m, and followed a sequence of slow burn, which began with Kwizera setting a brisk early pace, leading through the first 2km lap in 5:47.
Midway through the second lap, world U20 cross-country bronze medalist Matthew Kipruto surged to the front, with Kwizera on his shoulder.
The 5:52 lap trimmed the lead pack to Kipruto, Kwizera, Kipsang, and Spain’s Thierry Ndikumwenayo.
The third lap, in 5:46, saw the four strung out in single file behind the still-leading Kipruto, who would later round up a memorable day.
“I am doubly happy,” Kipsang said after his win, which was his second on the cross-country tour in a span of seven days. “It is my birthday and I have won. I was third here last year, but my victory in Cardiff last weekend gave me confidence.
I did not want to set the pace; I saved everything for the finish, and it paid off.”
Elsewhere in the women’s race, Kenya’s Sheila Jebet faded to a second-place finish, timing 27:55.
The 20-year-old, at some point, looked like a worthy candidate for victory, but was outdone by eventual race winner Likina Amebaw, who covered the final lap in 6:14 to finish 30 seconds clear of Jebet.
Speaking after the race, the Ethiopian said: “Soria is my favourite cross-country race, so I am very pleased to take my second victory here. Itálica was very tough, and recovery has not been easy, so I started conservatively.
When I kicked, I was surprised Jebet stayed with me so long, but fortunately she could not follow on the last lap. The circuit is very similar to where I train, so I feel comfortable here.”
Leading results
Women (8km)
1 Likina Amebaw (ETH) 27:25
2 Sheila Jebet (KEN) 27:55
3 Valentina Gemetto (ITA) 28:11
4 Idaira Prieto (KEN) 28:19
5 Noshin Mandoi Kimuge (KEN) 28:33
6 María Ureña (ESP) 28:54
Men (8km)
1 Mathew Kipchumba Kipsang (KEN) 23:10
2 Rodrigue Kwizera (BDI) 23:11
3 Matthew Kipkpoech Kipruto (KEN) 23:13
4 Thierry Ndikumwenayo (ESP) 23:13
5 Naibei Kiplimo Mayebei (KEN) 23:45
6 Ilias Fifa (ESP) 23:47
