Addis Ababa, October 2Ethiopia’s2, 2023 (FBC) – Likina Ambaw became the first Gold event winner of this season’s World Athletics Cross Country Tour, claiming victory at the Cross Internacional Zornotza eralier today.
Likina Ambaw outsprinted her compatriot Lemlem Nibret during the closing stages of the women’s race on a pleasant day in Amorebieta, Spain.
Right from the start of the 8700m women’s event it was Mawia, the 2022/2023 Cross Country Tour winner, who took control, closely followed by the Ethiopian duo of Lemlem Nibret and Likina Amebaw. Alessia Zarbo of France ran alone in fourth, well ahead of the large chasing group.
The leading trio covered the opening 2000m lap in 6:49 and the second circuit in 6:55, with Nibret briefly moving to the front by the third kilometre.
At halfway, the leaders had built a margin of 21 seconds on Zarbo, who in turn was well clear of the top Spaniards. Over the penultimate loop, Mawia and Nibret took turns at the helm, while the Spain-based Amebaw remained tucked behind that tandem. Nibret then clocked the fastest split of the race to that point, a 3:19 sixth kilometre, and shortly after the bell she picked up the pace dramatically to leave Mawia well behind, while Amebaw managed to join her with relative ease.
Nibret pushed hard over the final loop but Amebaw did not relinquish and the Ethiopian pair engaged in a thriling sprint finish, much to the delight of the crowd. Taking advantage of a hilly section some 200m from home, Amebaw broke away from her younger compatriot – who finished fifth in the U20 race at the World Cross Country Championships in Bathurst – to win in 29:36 to Nibret’s 29:38.
Mawia completed the podium another 25 seconds adrift but well clear of Zarbo, who finished fourth just over a minute behind the Kenyan.
“I’m over the moon,” said Amebaw. “I have been training so hard for the last three months thinking of this cross country season, where I expect to achieve great things. I’ll next run in Atapuerca next Sunday,” added the 25-year-old, who has been based in Spain since 2019.