Narrow XC Win For Emmanuel Bett In Spain
- By Duncan Larkin
- Published Nov. 20, 2012
- Updated Nov. 20, 2012 at 11:07 AM UTC
Kenyan men have won the race six times in a row.
It was a close win for Kenya’s Emmanuel Bett at the 19th ‘Cross Internacional de Soria’ in Spain last Sunday.
Bett crossed the the line in the 10K cross-country race in 30:48. Ethiopia’s Amanuel Mesel was second (30:51), while John Kipkoech of Kenya took third, clocking 30:57.
It was Bett’s first-ever victory on Spanish soil.
“I liked the race a lot, especially because of the sunny weather as I consider that’s an advantage for me,” Bett said. “I had tough opponents, mainly the Eritrean Mesel but I was finally the fastest.”
Bett said that his goal is to prepare for the upcoming world cross-country championships in March.
He was the sixth Kenyan male in a row to win the Spanish race.
In the women’s race, an 8K, Nazaret Weldu broke the tape in 28:36. Spanish runners took second and third: Diana Martín (28:38) and Azucena Díaz (28:54).
“When I pushed hard throughout the closing lap, I realised I had opened a slight gap on Weldu and tried to keep it to the end but I just couldn’t,” recalled second-place finisher Martin after the race.
For More: IAAF
FILED UNDER: News TAGS: Amanuel Mese / Cross Country / Emmanuel Bett / John Kipkoech / Nazaret Weldu
Duncan Larkin
Duncan Larkin is the news editor at Competitor.com and a freelance journalist who’s been covering the sport of running for over five years. He’s run 2:32 in the marathon and won the Himalayan 100-Mile Stage Race in 2007. His first running book, RUN SIMPLE, was released last July.