NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 30 – Samuel Kibathi continued Kenya’s dominance at the World Cross Country Championships under 20 level as he clinched the country’s first gold at this year’s edition in Belgrade, Serbia on Saturday afternoon.
The national cross country junior champion clocked 22:40 to cross the finish line first, ahead of Ethiopia’s Mezgebu Sime who timed 22:41 in second.
Another Kenyan, Matthew Kipruto, bagged bronze after clocking 22:46.
The win was a deserving consolation after missing out on a medal in the women’s under-20 race where Ethiopia completed a clean podium sweep.
Marta Alemayo clocked 19:28 in first place, ahead of her fellow countrywomen, Asayech Ayichew (19:32) and Robe Dida (19:38) in second and third respectively.
Sheila Chebet was Kenya’s best performer in the race, clocking 19:45 to finish fourth.
