Kemboi, Chebet bag silver, bronze in Italy cross country

Burundi’s Rodrigue Kwizera and Eritrea’s Rahel Daniel, winners of the 2022 World Athletics Cross Country Tour, took the honours at Campaccio, the 10th Gold level meeting of this year’s series, in San Giorgio su Legnano on Friday 6 January.

In the women's race, Kenya's duo of Margaret Kipkemboi and Mirriam Chebet came home in second and third place as the Eritrean was unstoppable. 

The five-woman leading pack formed by Daniel, Burundi’s Francine Nyomokunzi, world 10,000m bronze medallist Kipkemboi, fellow Kenyan Chebet and double European U23 cross-country champion Nadia Battocletti from Italy went through the first lap in 6:46.

Obiri, Kandie continue KDF cross-country supremacy as Kamworor, Chepkoech rule Police

Daniel and Kipkemboi broke away from Nyomokunzi during the second of the three laps and reached the 5km marker in 16:08, seven seconds ahead of Nyomokunzi and Chebet.

During the final lap, Daniel and Kipkemboi ran neck-and-neck until Daniel launched her attack on the uphill section of the course. 

She crossed the line in 19:10, finishing two seconds ahead of Kipkemboi, who repeated her second place in San Giorgio su Legnano from the 2020 edition.

“It was fantastic to run the Campaccio and receive the support from the crowd,” said Daniel, who finished fifth over 10,000m at the World Championships in Oregon in a national record of 30:12.15. 

The highs and lows of athletics in 2022

“I competed in San Giorgio su Legnano last year and I was prepared for this course. I finished second here last year, so I really wanted to win today. I felt in control until the last lap when I launched my final sprint.”

Chebet crossed the finish line in 19:31. Battocletti overtook Nyomokunzi to finish fourth in 19:18, her best ever finish in San Giorgio su Legnano.

Women

1 Rahel Daniel (ERI) 19:10

2 Margaret Kipkemboi (KEN) 19:12

3 Mirriam Chebet (KEN) 19:31

4 Nadia Battocletti (ITA) 19:38

5 Francine Niyomokunzi (BDI) 19:40

6 Marwa Bouzayani (TUN) 19:42

7 Ludovica Cavalli (ITA) 20:03

8 Giovanna Selva (ITA) 20:10

9 Anna Arnaudo (ITA) 20:18

10 Federica Zanne (ITA) 20:19

Men

1 Rodrigue Kwizera (BDI) 28:42

2 Birhanu Balew (BRN) 28:42

3 Yemaneberhan Crippa (ITA) 28:47

4 Oscar Chelimo (UGA) 28:52

5 Egide Ntakarutimana (BDI) 29:08

6 Mohamed Jhinaoui (TUN) 29:12

7 Yohanes Chiappinelli (ITA) 29:18

8 Iliass Aouani (ITA) 29:44

9 Emil Millan De la Oliva (SWE) 29:46

10 Mattia Padovani (ITA) 29:52

Additional reporting by World Athletics