Kipsang set for another tight battle in weekend's cross country race in Spain

An interesting battle between Kenya’s Matthew Kipsang and Burundi’s Rodrigue Kwizera will ensue again this weekend, when the pair battle it out for the Cross Internacional de Atapuerca win on Sunday, 23 November.

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The two runners last week - on Sunday, 16 November in Soria - engaged in a closely-contested race to the finish line that ultimately saw World 5,000m 11th place finisher Kipsang win by just a single second, timing 23:10.

Kipsang, who was celebrating his 30th birthday on the day, refused to let a slip on the downhill just before the home straight disrupt his progress, unleashing the superior track speed to breeze past the battling Burundian, who came second, clocking 23:11.

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That contest will be top of the billing this weekend once more, with this year’s event seeing the event distance reduced from 9km to 7.3km.

Kwizera will look to retain his title, while Kipsang, who has two cross-country wins this season, seeks to build on his third-place finish from last year.

Other contenders in the World Athletics Cross Country Tour Gold meeting include: Kenya’s Naibei Kiplimo Mayebei, Burundian duo of Emile Hafashimana and Celestin Ndikumana, and the Spanish pair of Thierry Ndikumwenayo and Said Mechaal.

Elsewhere in the women’s race - also to be 7.3 km, Kenyan youngster Kenya’s Sheila Jebet will be among the contenders of an event that will be headlined by Italy’s Nadia Battocletti, who will be making her cross-country season debut after a successful medal hunt at September’s World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.

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The 20-year-old Kenyan will have her case made harder by the participation of Ethiopia’s Likina Amebaw, who will look to extend her dominance that has seen her win both in Amorebieta and Soria.

Last year’s winner, Daisy Jepkemei of Kazakhstan, will also be in contention, as will Burundi’s Micheline Niyomahoro.

Sunday’s races will also serve as Spain’s national cross country championships.

Weather forecasters predict a windy and cold day with temperatures between 4-6ºC by the time of the event.

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