Zakayo fourth in final Cross Country Tour in Albufeira

2018 World U20 5000m champion Edward Zakayo finished fourth in the final World Athletics Cross Country Tour Gold meeting of the season - Cross Internacional das Amendoeiras em Flor - in Albufeira on Sunday 25 February.

The Kenyan, who clocked 27:31 was the only top five finisher in the 9.13 km race (for both the men’s and women’s distance) after it had been built up to have Ednah Jebitok and Vincent Rono feature.

Jebitok out to claim bragging rights in season's last Cross Country Tour in Albufeira

Zakayo, in a bid to double up on his other cross country tour win in Cardiff, was among a group of four men (Oscar Chelimo, Rodrigue Kwizera and Thierry Ndikumwenayo in the leading pack with just under eight minutes of running time left.

It was in the fifth and final lap that the Kenyan was dropped, leaving three contenders that sprinted to the finish line.

Ndikumwenayo emerged the winner in 27:18, finishing one second ahead of Chelimo and Kwizera.

In the women’s race, Jebitok’s closest rival in the race to top the women’s standings - Likina Amebaw - emerged the winner, as she won with over 30 seconds in a time of 30:45.

Burundi’s Francine Niyomukunzi came second clocking 31:17, while Ethiopia’s Asmarech Anley completed the podium finish posting 31:19.

Amebaw ran with the large lead pack for the first three laps before forging ahead to win by a comfortable margin.

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