The Burundian Kwizera and the Ethiopian Fikabu, winners of the San Sebastián cross

The athlete from Burundi, Rodrigue Faith, winner last week at the International Cross of Soria, has repeated his triumph this Sunday in San Sebastián at the beat Ugandan Thomas Ayeko by a second, while in the female test the Ethiopian won Zenebu Fikadu.

Kwizera, with a winning stride, has left the weight of the almost 10 kilometers of race to the Eritrean Yemane Haileselassie, Lamdassem and Mechaal, in a group of runners who have opened a gap from the initial stride.

Mechal accelerated with three laps to go and took away Kwizera and Ugandan Ayeko. This one put one more gear on the last lap and with the Burundian they went for the victory in some exciting final meters.

After withstanding Ayeko’s final ax blow, Kwizera has resurfaced in the final meters with a lesson in strength and strategy to win by a second. Spanish of Moroccan origin, Abdesamad Oukhelfen, has achieved a creditable third position.

The female test has had less emotion. The two African riders who started as clear favorites have set a pace that their rivals have not been able to follow in the first kilometers.

The fight has turned into a face to face between Ethiopians Zenebu Fikadu and Zerfe Wondemagegn. The first one has adapted better to the heavy terrain of the test, and the rain has granted a truce in the last hours and the circuit has been less complicated.

Finally Fikadu has detached himself from his compatriot, who has settled for silver and has surpassed the Spanish Carolina Robles, who has not lost face to the Ethiopians and has finished 18 seconds behind the winner.

Male test classification

1.- Rodrigue Kwizera (Bur.) 26:56 minutes

2.- Thomas Ayeko (Uga.) A 1 second

3.- Abdessamad Oukhelfen (Esp.) a 27 sg.

Women’s event classification

1.- Zenebu Fikadu (Eti.) 25:27 minutos

2.- Zerfe Wondemagegb (Eti.) A 11 seconds

3.- Carolina Robles (Esp.)          a 18 sg.