The Bisharat Gold Course in Amman was bright with colour and sunshine as the 37th IAAF World Cross Country Championships, with 700 athletes for 63 countries, took over the picturesque venue in one of Jordan’s most stunning locations, bringing the sporting world together in the Middle East.
There were three new champions in the senior races and junior men’s race, while in the junior women’s race the outstanding defending champion Genzebe Dibaba – the only gold medallist from 2008 to start in this year’s edition – made history by winning the title for the second time in successive years, the only Ethiopian to have won this title twice.
“I am extremely happy that I won,” said the younger sister of 2008 senior women’s champion Tirunesh Dibaba. “I am happier with my win this year because this race was difficult with the tough competitors and the course was more than we could handle.”
Ethiopia also won the team title.
In the junior men’s race the USA and Australian teams lived up to their hype with fifth and sixth place finishes respectively, the highest placed non-African the promising German Fernandez in 11th place, but the day belonged to Ethiopian Ayele Abshero, the 2008 silver medallist. “I am very happy that I won because it was a testing course,” he said. “During the race my body was not feeling so good but God willed me to win and I am pleased to trade my silver in Edinburgh for gold here.”
Kenya won team gold led home by second place finisher Titus Kipjumba Mbishei, two points ahead of Ethiopia.
The senior women’s race was dominated by Kenya with three athletes in the top four, the team also winning gold. Florence Kiplagat, the 2006 World Junior 5000m silver medallist, led the team home in first place, backing up her earlier statement that the Kenyan team had been working on team tactics. “I am happy that I won and I dedicate my win to my daughter,” she said. ‘I’ve had to battle all the way and I’m glad I won for Kenya after such a long time without gold.”
2008 World Cross bronze medallist Linet Masai went one better with silver in Amman. “As long as a Kenyan wins I am happy and now I’m aiming for the 10,000m title at the Berlin World Championships,” said the 19 year-old who finished fourth in the Beijing Olympics 10,000m.
Ethiopia’s Meselech Melkamu finished third.
It was fitting that the outstanding race of the day came in the event finale, the senior men’s race, where an incredible pack of ten athletes led the field going into the final hill.
The winner was 2008 African champion Gebre-egziabher Gebremariam of Ethiopia, who moved into the lead on the final climb. “I didn’t know that until I crossed the finish line that I had won. Kenenisa would have liked to be here and I know he’ll be happy to see the results – I can’t wait to see him.”
Uganda’s Moses Kipsiro finished second with the consistently impressive Zersenay Tadese, champion in 2007 and bronze medallist in Edinburgh 12 months ago, third. “I am happy because I’m deep in marathon training,” he said. ‘It was very tough because I’m doing lots miles in preparation for London Marathon.”
Team gold went to Kenya, with Ethiopia second.
Full results and reports are available on the IAAF website: www.iaaf.org.