Kenyan athletes dominate Albufeira Cross Country

Kenyan athletes produced strong performances at the Cross Internacional das Amendoeiras em Flor, the penultimate World Athletics Cross Country Tour Gold meeting of the season, held in Albufeira on Sunday.

Mirriam Cherop claimed a decisive victory in the women’s race, while Charles Rotich and Victor Kimosop featured prominently in the men’s contest, finishing behind Burundian runner Rodrigue Kwizera and Uganda's Oscar Chelimo.

Both senior races were contested over 9.28 kilometers on the Algarve course.

In the men’s race, a large lead pack formed early, completing the first lap in 5:52 with Kwizera prominent alongside Kenyan Rotich and Uganda’s Chelimo.

The pace remained steady through the second lap at 11:20, with the leading group gradually thinning.

By the end of the third lap at 16:46, only five athletes remained in contention: Kwizera, Chelimo, Rotich, Kenyan Victor Kimosop, and Spain’s European cross-country champion Thierry Ndikumwenayo.

Shortly after the 6 km mark, Kwizera and Chelimo broke clear, reaching the lap four checkpoint in 22:02 with an eight-second advantage over Kimosop and Rotich.

Kwizera surged inside the final kilometre to claim his third Albufeira victory in 27:19.

Chelimo finished 10 seconds later in 27:29, with Rotich securing third place in 27:32 and Kimosop finishing fourth in 27:42. Playas Castellon, led by Kwizera, won the team gold ahead of Chelimo’s ATL Casone.

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In the women’s race, Cherop set the early pace alongside compatriot Jackline Rotich.

The first lap was completed in 6:50, with Burundi’s Elvanie Nimbona, Portugal’s Carolina Robles, and Great Britain’s Lucy Jones also in contention.

By lap two at 13:09, the lead group had reduced to nine athletes, with Cherop, Rotich, Nimbona, and Robles remaining prominent.

The race stretched further on the third lap at 19:27, with the leading quartet asserting control and maintaining positions through lap four at 25:43.

Cherop made her decisive move at around the 8km mark.

Jackline Rotich initially attempted to respond, while Nimbona and Robles could not keep pace as Cherop surged clear.

She crossed the finish line in 31:36, becoming the first Kenyan winner in Albufeira since 2020.

Jackline Rotich finished second in 31:50, narrowly ahead of Nimbona in 31:52, while Robles completed the top four in 32:01. SC Braga retained the team title ahead of Fenerbahce.

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Leading results

Women 9.28km

Mirriam Cherop (KEN) 31:36, Jackline Rotich (KEN) 31:50, Elvanie Nimbona (BDI) 31:52, Carolina Robles (ESP) 32:01, Idaira Prieto (ESP) 32:10, Mariana Machado (POR) 32:17, Sümeyye Erol (TUR) 32:26, Derya Kunur (TUR) 32:30

Men 9.28km

Rodrigue Kwizera (BDI) 27:19, Oscar Chelimo (UGA) 27:29, Charles Rotich (KEN) 27:32, Victor Kimosop (KEN) 27:42, Thierry Ndikumwenayo (ESP) 27:45, Abdessamad Oukhelfen (ESP) 27:48, Miguel Angel Martínez (ESP) 27:51, Luca Alfieri (ITA) 28:23

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