Mburu, Kiplimo clash in Spain as Cross Country tour heads to Seville

World silver medalist over the 10,000m distance Stanley Mburu will lash with Uganda's Jacob Kiplimo as well as the form of Thierry Ndikumwenayo, Kenya's Levy Kibet, Burundi’s Rodrigue Kwizera and Eritrea's Merhawi Mebrahtu at the Cross Internacional de Itálica in Santiponce on the outskirts of the Spanish city of Seville on Sunday, the sixth Gold standard meeting in the current World Athletics Cross Country Tour.

Mburu and Kiplimo met on the track in Oregon as the Kenyan emerged second with the Ugandan third, but this time they will meet for the 10.1km, both of them hoping to bring on board their track experience to get an edge.

Kiplimo boasts an impressive 26:33.93 PB for 10,000m and enjoyed a fantastic summer season this year, winning double gold at the Commonwealth Games just a few weeks after his bronze medal at the World Championships. His last appearance came at the Great North Run in Newcastle a couple of months ago where he won against a strong field.

Ndikumwenayo, Kibet, Kwizera, and Mebrahtu had a good outing last Sunday and they will be out to extend the same performance in Seville

In the women's race, Uganda's Olympic steeplechase champion Peruth Chemutai returns to the fold after missing in action last weekend in Atapuerca due to illness. She will be making her first outing since taking bronze at the Commonwealth Games in August.

Kenya's Purity Chepkirui has had a podium finish the last two weekends, finishing first in San Sebastián two weeks ago and settling for a second-place finish in Atapuerca last Sunday.

Chebet leads Kenya's cross country podium sweep in Spain

The 2021 world U20 1500m champion will be joined by her compatriot Nancy Jepleting, winner in Zaragoza last month, while Ethiopia will be represented by Meselu Berhe, runner-up in San Sebastián and seventh in Atapuerca.