Teenage sensation Kipruto extends winning streak in Carhaix-Plouguer

Matthew Kipkoech Kipruto secured his second successive win of the World Athletics Cross Country Tour Gold season, while Uganda’s Belinda Chemutai got her campaign off to a successful start at the Festival du Cross-Country meeting in Carhaix-Plouguer, France, on Sunday 24 November.

One week on from winning the 10.2km senior men’s race at the Cinque Mulini meeting in Italy, 19-year-old Kipruto secured top spot after racing the 7.31km event at the Site de Kerampuilh.

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Kipruto, who claimed World U20 Cross Country bronze in Belgrade in March, this time clocked 22:35 to win by 12 seconds ahead of his compatriot Robert Kiprop Koech and Kipruto’s fellow teenager Harbert Kibet of Uganda, who finished fifth in the 3000m at the World U20 Championships in Lima in August.

Koech and Kibet both clocked 22:47, with the former getting the nod for the runner-up spot, while it was also close for fourth place as Kenya’s Vincent Kimaiyo and Uganda’s Titus Musau both ran 23:07.

Chemutai was also a clear winner in the women’s 7.31km race. Clocking 25:51, she won by seven seconds ahead of another close battle for second place. Kenya’s Maurine Jepkoech Chebor secured the runner up spot as she clocked 25:58, the same time as Ethiopia’s Asmarech Anley in third place.

Ethiopia’s Robe Dida was fourth, one place ahead of Kazakhstan’s 2022 3000m steeplechase champion Norah Jeruto.

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Leading results

Women

1 Belinda Chemutai (UGA) 25:51

2 Maurine Jepkoech Chebor (KEN) 25:58

3 Asmarech Anley (ETH) 25:58

4 Robe Dida (ETH) 26:00

5 Norah Jeruto (KAZ) 26:03

6 Flavie Renouard (FRA) 26:29

Men

1 Matthew Kipkoech Kipruto (KEN) 22:35

2 Robert Kiprop Koech (KEN) 22:47

3 Harbert Kibet (UGA) 22:47

4 Vincent Kimaiyo (KEN) 23:07

5 Titus Musau (UGA) 23:07

6 Saymon Amanuel (ERI) 23:09

By World Athletics