BATHURST, Australia — Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet overhauled favourite Letesenbet Gidey with a stunning late burst over the last 100 metres to clinch the women’s World Athletics Cross Country Championships.
Jacob Kiplimo also won the men’s title for Uganda but only the approach of a thunder storm about to sweep over the Mount Panorama race track was able to offer drama comparable to the women’s race.
World 10,000m champion Gidey had broken for the front on the final climb out of the swampy “Billabong” section of the course and looked to be coasting to the line when Chebet put on a late burst and appeared on her shoulder.
Ethiopian Gidey tried to react but her legs gave way and she fell to the ground as world 5,000m silver medallist Chebet swept past her and crossed the line in 33 minutes 48 seconds.
“I did not expect to win but I hung in,” said Chebet, who won the under-20 title at the last championships in Aarhus in 2019.
“I saw that towards the finish Gidey was a bit slower and I ran hard and I won. When we were running, I thought that she was not running fast anymore and I thought I have the potential to go and win,” Chebet added according to Reuters.
Tsigie Gebreselama of Ethiopia took the silver in 33.56 and Agnes Jebet Ngetich took bronze for Kenya in 34 minutes dead. Gidey had to be helped over the line and was disqualified.
Kiplimo finished second behind compatriot Joshua Cheptegei four years ago in Aarhus but raced clear of the leading pack on the final lap of the 2km circuit to win gold in 29.17.
Twice champion Geoffrey Kamworor of Kenya claimed a second successive silver in 29.26, while Olympic 5,000m and world 10,000m champion Cheptegei had to be satisfied with the bronze in 29.37.
A late burst earned Ethiopian Senayet Getachew the women’s under-20 crown in 20.53, while Ishmael Kipkurui gave Kenya more success with a run of 24.29 to win the men’s age-group race.
Kenya earlier dominated the mixed team relay ahead of Ethiopia in 23.14 with Australia giving the locals something to cheer about with a bronze medal.
He crossed nine seconds clear of Ethiopia’s Berihu Aregawi with fellow Ugandan Cheptegei taking bronze.
“The course was really good, even with lots of wind, it was really intense,” said Kiplimo according to AFP.
“For me it was really good because there are lots of hills where we train in Uganda. It was not easy but I did my best.”
Cheptegei — the 5,000m and 10,000m world record holder — was defending the title he won four years ago in Aarhus, Denmark when Kiplimo took silver.
But after leading the pack through much of the race he was overhauled by his countryman on the final lap of five and didn’t have the legs to reel him in.
“The course was challenging… and I think I was not so much prepared, but to come here and be on the podium, I can be grateful,” said Cheptegei.
“I am very happy for Jacob, because we were working as a team and with each other to prepare and win the title.”
They faced a gruelling challenge on a hot day, with an uphill start followed by a run through a vineyard and a rapid 350m downhill section before an uphill run at the end of each 2km loop.
In the women’s race over the same distance, Ethiopia’s Gidey — the 5,000m, 10,000m and half marathon world record holder — took the lead on the final lap and pulled away from Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet.
She looked to have timed her race perfectly but began grimacing in the closing stages and collapsed with barely 100m to go, handing world 5,000m silver medallist Chebet the title in 33.48.
Gidey was illegally helped to her feet and stumbled over the finish line, but was disqualified.
