Defending champion and three-time winner Cornelius Kangogo will be aiming to win for a fourth time at the Corrida Pedestre Internationale de Houilles when the 46th edition of the IAAF Silver Label road race takes place in the Paris suburbs on Sunday (31).
Kangogo is aiming to become the second most prolific winner in race history. Although he still has some way to match Khalid Skah&rsquo;s tally of eight victories, he could equal Jacky Boxberger, who won the event four times.
In both 2015 and 2016 Kangogo had unleashed a strong but frantic kick to win in a blanket finish, and last year the top four finishers were credited with the same time of 28:19. The 23-year-old Kenyan may well decide to stick to his tried-and-tested tactic on Sunday.
Kangogo, who clocked his PB of 27:58 in Houilles back in 2013, prevailed in Dongio in April in a season&rsquo;s best of 28:14 and then improved his half marathon personal best to 1:01:05 in March before turning his attention to the track for the summer.
One of his &ndash; if not the &ndash; main opponents should be Jemal Yimer. Second in Houilles last year, the 21-year-old Ethiopian finished fifth in the 10,000m at the IAAF London World Championships in a PB of 26:56:11. His 10km road PB of 27:54, set one month later in Prague, makes him the fastest entrant of the field.
Yimer, who finished fourth at this year&rsquo;s World Cross Country Championships, won the challenging 20km classic Marseille-Cassis race two month ago.
Switzerland&rsquo;s Julien Wanders will also be contesting for the victory. The 21-year-old never shies away from taking command of the race, as he did last year. He wound up sixth last year in a best of 28:22, just three seconds shy of Kangogo, a mark he improved to 28:13 in Durban in October where he took the third place.
Callum Hawkins is another podium contender. The Briton improved both his half marathon and marathon PBs this year, clocking 1:00:00 over 13.1 miles in February and then finishing fourth in the marathon at the World Championships in 2:10:57. Although his official PB for 10km is 29:12, Hawkins passed through 10 kilometres in 28:28 en route to his half marathon victory in Marugame earlier this year.
Precious Mashele of South Africa, Elias Haji Hayato of Ethiopia and Elias Kiptoo Kemboi of Kenya also cannot be discounted. The latter prevailed in Swansea in a PB of 28:20 in September. Mashele won in Cape Town in a PB of 28:33, while Hayato has a PB of 28:14 set in 2014.
Florian Carvalho leads the French contingent. The 28-year-old made an impressive debut over 20km in Paris in October, finishing third in 58:40. The 2012 European 1500m silver medallist will be targeting a finishing time within 28:30; he recorded his best of 28:46 at the challenging Rome 10km two years ago.
Other French hopes will rest on Yoann Kowal, whose aim will be to improve his 29:01 PB set in Houilles six years ago.
The course record is 27:47 set by Imane Merga in 2010.
<h3>Ndiwa leads women's field</h3>
Kenya&rsquo;s Stacy Ndiwa appears to be the marginal favourite in the women&rsquo;s race.
The 25-year-old, who finished fifth at the 2015 World Cross Country Championships, has set two PBs at 10km this year: 31:37 in Prague and 31:27 in Ziwa.
Compatriot Magdelene Masai looks to be her main opponent. She is the second fastest woman of the field, courtesy of her 31:44 clocking from New York in April. But the former steeplechase specialist finished 1:38 behind Ndiwa in Ziwa earlier this month, running 33:15.
Britain&rsquo;s Katrina Wooton will also be a woman to watch. Second in 2016 in a PB of 31:47, she essentially matched that time on the track at the end of this summer with a time of 31:45:63.
Kenyan Dorcas Tutoek may also have a role to play following her third place in Durban in October, where she lowered her best to 32:12.
Ethiopia&rsquo;s world U20 steeplechase bronze medallist Agrie Belachew and Eritrea&rsquo;s Mekdes Woldu, who has a best of 32:53, should also feature in the battle for the podium.
Quentin Guillon for the IAAF

Defending champion and three-time winner Cornelius Kangogo will be aiming to win for a fourth time at the Corrida Pedestre Internationale de Houilles when the 46th edition of the IAAF Silver Label road race takes place in the Paris suburbs on Sunday (31).

Kangogo targets fourth victory in Houilles

Cornelius Kangogo clocked 28:19 to win the 45th Corrida Pedestre Internationale de Houilles 10km, an IAAF Bronze Label Road Race, on Sunday (18).
With his win, the 23-year-old Kenyan became the third most prolific winner in race history with three victories, equalling the tallies of Fernando Mamede and Micah Kogo, but behind Jacky Boxberger who won the event four times and well behind Khalid Skah, who triumphed on eight occasions.
Even though Kangogo lowered his 5000m lifetime best to 13:10:80 in May, it was difficult to gauge his form as he hadn&rsquo;t raced since early September.&nbsp;
Yet from the outset he illustrated his ambitions as the man to beat. He took the lead about two minutes into the race along with 20-year-old Franco-Swiss Julien Wanders, the French U20 record over the distance.
The large leading pack hit the first kilometre in 2:51, suggesting a possible finish time of about 28:30. After passing the three kilometre checkpoint in 8:35 Kangogo made his first move, breaking up the field behind him.
Nine runners were then at the front including Kangogo, Wanders, Ethiopians Jemal Yimer Mekonnen and Dawit Fikadu, Bahraini Al Mahjoud Dazza, Burundi&rsquo;s Thierry Ndikumwenayo, Ugandan Abdallah Kibet and the British pair Dewi Griffiths and Ben Connor.
Kangogo then slowed the rhythm leaving Wanders in command. The lead pack hit the midway point in 14:20 with Kangogo appearing strongest. He tested his opponents with another big move in the sixth kilometre, but the pace again slowed allowing the pack to regroup.
With three kilometres remaining, Griffiths and Connor drifted back, leaving seven in contention.
A kilometre later the lead runners waited to see who&rsquo;d make the next move. Wanders ratcheted up the pace but didn&rsquo;t manage to pull away, with Kangogo matching his move.
The race came down to a fierce sprint over the final 300 metres. As he did a year ago, Kangogo unleashed a strong kick to win in 28:19. In a blanket finish, just one second separated the first five across the line.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m very happy to win for the third time,&rdquo; said Kangogo, who was credited with the same time as Mekonnen, Dazza and Ndikumwenayo. &ldquo;I tested the other athletes several times and then I awaited the sprint.&rdquo;
Wanders wound up sixth, just three seconds adrift of Kangogo. &nbsp;&ldquo;I&rsquo;m very happy because I beat the senior Swiss record of 28:25,&rdquo; said a delighted Wanders who shouted with joy when crossing the finish line. &ldquo;I wasn&rsquo;t that far from the victory but they were too strong. It will be for another time.&rdquo;
<h3>Kibiwot smashes women&rsquo;s course record</h3>
In the women&rsquo;s contest, Viola Kibiwot produced an impressive solo run in her first 10km on the roads.&nbsp;
The Kenyan, who was fourth at the 2015 World Championships over 5,000m, promptly established a huge lead over Briton Katrina Wooton, a gap that she extend to more than twenty seconds after seven kilometres.&nbsp;
Kibiwot didn&rsquo;t fade in the waning stages, eventually crossing the line in 31:14 to smash the previous course record by 14 seconds. Her performance ranks her as the ninth fastest over the distance on the roads this year.
&ldquo;I felt very good and I took the lead from the start. It was a very fast 10k,&rdquo; said Kibiwot, who clocked a 5000m PB of 14:29:50 earlier this year.
Wooton came home second in 31:37 with Kenya&rsquo;s Carolyn Jepkosgei rounding out the podium in 32:54.
Quentin Guillon for the IAAF
&nbsp;
<div>Leading Results:</div>
<div>MEN -</div>
<div>1. Cornelius Kangogo (KEN) 28:19</div>
<div>2. Jemal Yimer Mekonnen (ETH) 28:19</div>
<div>3. Al Mahjoud Dazza (BRN) 28:19</div>
<div>4. Thierry Ndikumwenayo (BDI) 28&nbsp;:19</div>
<div>5. Dawit Fikadu (ETH) 28&nbsp;:20</div>
<div>6. Julien Wanders (SUI) 28:22</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div>WOMEN -</div>
<div>1. Viola Jelegat Kibiwot (KEN) 31:14</div>
<div>2. Katrina Wooton (GBR) 31:47</div>
<div>3. Carolyn Jepkosgei (KEN) 32:54</div>

Cornelius Kangogo clocked 28:19 to win the Corrida Pedestre Internationale de Houilles 10km, an IAAF Bronze Label Road Race, whose 45th edition took place on Sunday (18).

Kangogo collects third title in Houilles as Kibiwot impresses in 10km debut

Following successes in 2013 and 2015, Cornelius Kangogo of Kenya will be looking to win for a third time at the Corrida Pedestre Internationale de Houilles, an IAAF Bronze Label Road Race, whose 45th edition will take place in the north western suburbs of Paris on Sunday (18).
Last year Kangogo sprinted away from Ethiopia&rsquo;s Haymanot Alewe to regain his crown over the 10km course clocking a 28:10 personal best. Even if Alewe won&rsquo;t be in the running in Sunday&rsquo;s race, Kangogo will nevertheless face tough opposition, starting with Dawit Fikadu.
The Ethiopian, 21, prevailed in 10km contests in Rio and Casablanca earlier this year, improving his PB by eight seconds in the latter in May with his 27:56 run.
Fikadu has already shined on French roads as he won the Paris Versailles 16 km last year. He appears to be the main protagonist to counter Kangogo&rsquo;s bid but it&rsquo;s hard to gauge his form. Kangogo hasn&rsquo;t raced since early September but he did improve his lifetime best in the 5000m on the track to 13:10:80 earlier this year.
Ethiopia&rsquo;s Yimer Mekonnen, who was runner-up at the Istanbul 15km in November, cannot be ruled out in the battle for the podium.
Other podium contenders include Kenya&rsquo;s James Kangogo, who won the Cross de Hy&egrave;res last month and Abdallah Mande of Uganda. Mande finished third in Houilles last year with a 28:20 career best, and showed good form in early October with his victory at the Giro Al Sas in Trento in 28:47.
Not to be discounted is Thierry Ndikumwenayo. The Burundian, 19, finished fifth in the competitive Cross de l&rsquo;Acier three weeks ago and will line up for the first time in a 10km contest.&nbsp;
Another man to watch is the young Franco-Swiss Julien Wanders. The 20-year-old set a French junior record of 28:49 in Berlin in October and will be aiming to stick with the leaders as long as possible.
Other French hopes rest on the shoulders of Bouabdellah Tahri and Yoann Kowal. Tahri, 37, has moved to road running after a track career that included a bronze medal in the 3000m steeplechase at the 2009 IAAF World Championships. Kowal was fifth in the steeplechase at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and will be looking to improve his best of 29:01 set in Houilles five years ago. A Frenchman hasn&rsquo;t won in Houilles since Paul Arpin in 1987.&nbsp;
The field also includes Britons Dewi Griffiths and Ben Connor. The course record is 27:47 set by Imane Merga in 2010.
<h3>Jepksogei leads women&rsquo;s field</h3>
On the women&rsquo;s side, Ethiopia&rsquo;s Zerfie Limeneh won&rsquo;t be returning to defend her title leaving Kenyan Carolyn Jepkosgei, with a career best of 32:10, as the woman to beat.
Her countrywoman Viola Kibiwot looks to be her main rival. While she hasn&rsquo;t yet contested a 10km on the roads, the 32-year-old comes armed with solid credentials: a 14:29.50 career best in the 5000m set in Rabat this year, and fourth and sixth place finishes over the distance at the 2015 IAAF World Championships and 2012 Olympic Games, respectively.
Uganda&rsquo;s Stella Chesang was the runner-up in Houilles in 2015 and will be attempting to move up this year. Italia&rsquo;s Fatna Maraoui and Ukraine&rsquo;s Yuliya Shmatenko should also be in contention for the podium.
Quentin Guillon for the IAAF

Following successes in 2013 and 2015, Cornelius Kangogo of Kenya will be looking to win for a third time at the Corrida Pedestre Internationale de Houilles, an IAAF Bronze Label Road Race, whose 45th edition will take place in the north western suburbs of Paris on Sunday (18).

Kangogo targetting third victory at Houilles 10km

Kenya&rsquo;s Cornelius Kangogo regained the title he won in 2013 at the 44th edition of the Corrida Pedestre International de Houilles, an IAAF Silver Label Road Race, covering the 10km course in the north western suburbs of Paris in 28:10 on Sunday (27).Kangogo sprinted away from his last remaining rival, Haymanot Alewe, with barely 100 metres remaining and the Ethiopian had to settle for the runners up spot, one second in arrears.The large leading pack of around 20 runners passed the first kilometre in 2:52, a relative modest pace for the opening stages in Houilles. The group carried on at this rhythm, going through 2km in 5:46 and then 3km in 8:36. The leaders reached the 5km checkpoint in 14:17, which meant by this stage that the course record of 27:47, set by Imane Merga in 2010, almost certainly would not be improved upon.After hitting the halfway point, Kangogo then decided to use his experience of the course and started to push the pace. The leading group was quickly whittled down to six men: Kangogo, Alewe, Uganda&rsquo;s Abdallah Kibet Mande, Kenya&rsquo;s Elijah Tirop and his compatriots Micah Kogo and Victor Chumo, both men being past winners of the race and the latter the defending champion from 12 months ago.At the bell &ndash; Houilles is a flat three-lap course &ndash;, Tirop, the runner-up at the 2015 Nice Half Marathon in a PB of 1:00:55, was the first to start to struggle, followed quickly by Kogo.With two kilometres to go, Alewe, who won the cross &lsquo;Sud Ouest&rsquo; near Bordeaux in November, made a move and the 2014 winner Chumo was the next man unable to sustain the pace.With three men remaining in contention &ndash; Alewe, Mande and Kangogo &ndash; it was the Kenyan who pushed hard in the last kilometre to drop his two rivals. However, there was almost a dramatic ending to the race as 300 metres from home Kangogo started to celebrate prematurely.Alewe managed to close down on Kangogo before latter recognised the danger and sprinted away again.The winner ran the second half of the race in 13:53, 24 seconds quicker than the sedentary first half.&ldquo;I won in 2013 and I was fifth last year, so I&rsquo;m very happy to win again. My tactic was to run on the front to control the race,&rdquo; said Kangogo. Behind the leading pair, Mande completed the podium in third place in 28:20, with Kogo fourth in 28:30 and&nbsp; Chumo fifth in 28:39.The first Frenchman home was Yohan Durand, who placed eighth in 29:12.Ethiopia did take the honours in the women&rsquo;s race with 18-year-old Zerfie Limeneh crossing the line in 32:07 for her first international win on any surface. From the gun, a group of five women detached itself from the rest of the pack with Limeneh and Uganda's Stella Chesang accompanied by Kenyans Linah Cheruto and Nancy Kimaiyo as well as Ethiopia&rsquo;s Meskerem Amare. Kimaiyo, who won the 20km de Paris two months ago, was soon to fall back but the other four remained together until the final kilometre. Limeneh then increased the pace in the closing stages of the race and pulled away from her rivals with Chesang, another teenager, three seconds in arrears while Cheruto took third in 32:15,France's 2014 European marathon champion Christelle Daunay placed sixth in 32:57 but admitted alter that she hasn&rsquo;t completely recovered from the combined effects of running the New York Marathon in November, when she finished fifth in 2:26:57, and the European Cross Country Championships two weeks ago, when she was 18th. Quentin Guillon for the IAAF

Kenya’s Cornelius Kangogo regained the title he won in 2013 at the 44e edition of the Corrida Pedestre International de Houilles, an IAAF Silver Label Road Race, covering the 10km course in the north western outskirts of Paris in 28:10 on Sunday (27).

Kangogo regains Corrida Pedestre International de Houilles title

The 43rd edition of the famous Corrida Pedestre International de Houilles, the last major road race in France for 2014 and an IAAF Silver Label Road Race, will see Kenya&rsquo;s Cornelius Kangogo defend the title he won in 2013 on Sunday (28).However, Kangogo is likely to face a strong challenge from his compatriots Thomas Longosiwa and three-time winner Micah Kogo, the latter also being the runner up for the last two years in the Parisian suburb.Kangogo, who celebrates his 21st birthday next Wednesday, was a slightly surprising winner 12 months ago in what remains his 10km personal best of 27:58 but, having had a series of good track outings during the summer and also finishing second at the African cross country championships earlier in the year, he may feel that if the conditions are favourable then a tilt at the course record of 27:47, set by Ethiopia&rsquo;s Imane Merga in 2010, might be feasible.Kogo, still only 28 although he has been on the international circuit for almost a decade, is a familiar face in Houilles and has regularly returned to the race although the last of his three consecutive wins came in 2008.His last race was a rather modest 14th place at the New York Marathon last month but in difficult conditions, with the cold and wind causing many other runners plenty of problems as well in the Big Apple, that may not be the best indicator of his current shape.Longosiwa has had a busy year and dipped well below 13 minutes for 5000m on the track when he ran 12:56.16 at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Stockholm, finishing second to Ethiopia&rsquo;s Muktar Edris who ran a world-leading 12:54.83, but has only one win to his name this year - in the Kenyan Prisons Championships 5000m - and so will be keen to finish the year on a high note.Not to be discounted either is their fellow Kenyan Mark Kiptoo, who won the Frankfurt Marathon in October, and Eritrea&rsquo;s 2012 IAAF World Junior Championships 5000m silver medallist Abrar Osman. <h3>French hopes </h3> Leading the domestic challenge is European 3000m steeplechase champion Yoann Kowal, who will be dreaming of becoming the first Frenchman to win the race since Paul Arpin in 1987, although the odds must be against him.Well-known French internationals Morad Amdouni, Abdelatif Meftah and Hassan Chahdi will also be on the start line on Sunday.Bahrain&rsquo;s Ruth Jebet is an interesting name in the women&rsquo;s elite field. The 18-year-old has never run competitively on the roads before andnot raced over anything longer than 5000m and so there must be a question mark over how well she will cope with 10km. Nevertheless, the teenager is a huge talent, running 9:20.55 for the 3000m steeplechase this summer &ndash; the second fastest junior time ever - and she also took the world junior title over the barriers so there will be a lot of curiosity about what she can do.The accepted best 10km time on record for a junior is 31:29 by Karoline Bjerkeli Grovdal in 2009 which, coincidently, is exactly the same time as the Houilles course record set by Kenya&rsquo;s Margaret Wangari Muriuki in 2011.Kenya&rsquo;s Peris Jepchichir showed good form when winning the Montbeliard half marathon in a personal best of 1:09:12 in October and could also be a factor.In addition, another woman to look out for will be Yemenu Tewabech who will be making her debut in a European race after some promising performances at altitude in her native Ethiopia.Morocco&rsquo;s Rkia El Moukim, third in last year&rsquo;s race, also returns to Houilles while the leading European names are multiple French half marathon champion Fatiha Klilech-Fauvel, Great Britain international Sonia Thomas as well as Ukraine&rsquo;s Svitlana Stanko and Olga Kovotska. &nbsp;Phil Minshull and organisers for the IAAF

The 43rd edition of the famous Corrida Pedestre International de Houilles, the last major road race in France for 2014 and an IAAF Silver Label Road Race, will see Kenya’s Cornelius Kangogo defend the title he won in 2013 on Sunday (28).

Kangogo to defend title in Houilles but faces former champion Kogo

Italy’s newly crowned European champion Libania Grenot may have been defeated in the 400m, but the nation’s rising middle-distance star Federica Del Buono thrilled the enthusiastic Rovereto crowd when winning the 1500m at the Palio della Quercia meeting on Tuesday (2).Del Buono took the lead with one lap to go before pulling away to take an outstanding win in an Italian age-19 best of 4:05.32, putting her seventh on the Italian all-time list. Kenyan Stacy Ndiwa finished runner-up in 4:06:10 ahead of Ukraine’s Anna Mishchenko (4:06.63).Daughter of 1971 European indoor bronze medallist Gianni Del Buono and former middle-distance runner Rossella Gramola, who is also her coach, the teenager improved her PB for the third time in the space of a month.She clocked 4:07.49 in the European Championships final in Zurich and then went on to smash her personal best on the same Letzigrund track last week in her first ever IAAF Diamond League race.“I did not expect to improve my PB again after running in Zurich last week,” said Del Buono. “It’s a special feeling to win in front of the home crowd. I started my season with 4:16. My aim at the start of the year was to qualify for the European Championships.”Making her first appearance since winning the European 400m title, Italy's Libania Grenot could not reproduce the kind of form that saw her run 50.55 on this same track earlier this year to win the Italian title.Nevertheless, she ran another solid race to finish runner-up to Commonwealth champion Stephenie Ann McPherson, who pulled away from the rest of the field with 100 metres to go to take a solid win in 50.69.Grenot came off the bend in third place but she finished strongly, holding off Jamaica’s Christine Day to take second place in 51.30. Day took third place in 51.66. The Italian record-holder will next run in Brussels on Friday and then at the IAAF Continental Cup in Marrakech in both the 400m and 4x400m.Cornelius Kangogo broke away with 300 metres to go to take the win in a tactical 5000m in 13:24.01, finishing ahead of world leader Muktar Edris.US sprinter Barbara Pierre stormed to 11.16 to beat Jamaican Carrie Russell (11.29) to take the win in the women’s 100m. Pierre narrowly missed out on the meeting record set by Irina Privalova in 1993.Former Olympic 110m hurdles champion and world record-holder Dayron Robles edged out Greece’s Kostantinos Douvalidis in 13.29, coming close to the 13.27 meeting record set by double Olympic champion Roger Kingdom in 1990.World silver medallist and world leader Justin Gatlin won the men’s 100m in 10.07 into a slight headwind of -0.4m/s.Lavonne Idlette dipped under 13 seconds to clinch the win in the women’s 100m hurdles with 12.98 into a strong head wind of -1.7m/s ahead of Jasmine Stowers (13.06) and Italian champion Marzia Caravelli (13.26).Latvian Aiga Grabuste, fifth at the European Championships in Zurich, clinched the win in the women’s long jump on count-back over Swiss record-holder Irene Pusterla with a wind-assisted 6.75m. The former heptathlete’s second-best jump of 6.73m gave her the edge over Pusterla, who improved her season’s best.Ukraine’s Oksana Okuneva was the only jumper to clear 1.94m in the women’s high jump. European under-23 champion Alessia Trost improved her season’s best to 1.91m to finish second before failing three attempts at 1.94m.Trinidad and Tobago’s 2009 world 400m bronze medallist Renny Quow held off Jamaican Rasheed McDonald in the men’s 400m in 45.13, while Abdulaziz Mohamed won a tactical 800m in 1:47.12 The 50th anniversary meeting was attended by some past athletics stars who featured in previous editions of the meeting, including Javier Sotomayor, Sara Simeoni, Gabriella Dorio, Nenad Stekic (long jump meeting record-holder with 8.32m) and Fita Lovin (800m meeting record-holder with 1:57.69).Diego Sampaolo for the IAAF

Italy’s rising middle-distance star Federica Del Buono thrilled the enthusiastic Rovereto crowd when winning the 1500m at the Palio della Quercia meeting on Tuesday (2).

Del Buono breaks through in Rovereto

Italy’s newly crowned European champion Libania Grenot may have been defeated in the 400m, but the nation’s rising middle-distance star Federica Del Buono thrilled the enthusiastic Rovereto crowd when winning the 1500m at the Palio della Quercia meeting on Tuesday (2).

Kenya’s Cornelius Kangogo took the win at the 30th edition of the Giro della Media Blenio in Dongio in the Italian-speaking region of Canton Ticino in southern Switzerland, held on a rainy Monday (21).The African cross-country silver medallist held off Olympic 5000m bronze medallist Thomas Longosiwa by three seconds to win the 10km race in 28:15. Ethiopia’s world half-marathon silver medallist Guye Adola took third place in 28:21, while 2008 Olympic 5000m bronze medallist and four-time Media Blenio winner Edwin Soi finished a distant fourth in 28:42.Kangogo went to the front from the start, leading a six-man group which included Longosiwa, Adola, Soi, 59:56 half marathon specialist Daniel Wanjiru and Bernard Bett during the third of an eight-lap circuit.Kangogo, Longosiwa and Adola then broke away from Soi, opening up a six-second gap and reaching the half-way mark in 14:28.The race continued as a three-man battle with Kangogo, Longosiwa and Adola fighting it out for the win until the final lap. It came down to the final straight where Kangogo pulled away from Longosiwa by three seconds, clocking 28:15.Before today, Kangogo’s last victory on the roads came at the Corrida de Houilles last December. On the track, the 20-year-old has PBs of 3:35.72 for 1500m, 7:39.73 for 3000m and 13:15.26 in the 5000m.“I am very happy to win this race on a very good course,” said Kangogo. “There were many people who cheered on us during the race. My goal is to run the 5000m at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow next July.”European marathon champion Viktor Rothlin, who will run his final marathon at the European Championships on home soil in Zurich, finished tenth in 30:07.Kangogo’s name is the latest addition to a prestigious roll of honour for this popular race which was inaugurated in 1985 to celebrate the Olympic silver medal won by Markus Ryffel in the 5000m at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Ryffel won the second edition in 1986.The list of past winners includes the likes of Paul Tergat (1996 and 1997), Haile Gebrselassie (1995), Paul Koech (1998), Richard Limo (2004), Edwin Soi (2006, 2007, 2008 and 2012), Moses Mosop (2009) and Muktar Edris (2013).Diego Sampaolo for the IAAFLEADING RESULTS 1 Cornelius Kangogo (KEN) 28:15 2 Thomas Longosiwa (KEN) 28:18 3 Guye Adola (ETH) 28:22 4 Edwin Soi (KEN) 28:42 5 Daniel Wanjiru (KEN) 29:06 6 Bernard Bett (KEN) 29:19 7 Ahmed El Mazoury (ITA) 29:28 8 Simon Tesfay (ERI) 29:44 9 Tolossa Chengere (ETH) 29:57 10 Viktor Rothlin (SUI) 30:07

Kenya’s Cornelius Kangogo took the win at the 30th edition of the Giro della Media Blenio in Dongio in the Italian-speaking region of Canton Ticino in southern Switzerland, held on a rainy Monday (21).

Kangogo defeats quality field in Dongio 10km

Moses Kipsiro acquired his sixth victory in the last seven years at the Ugandan Cross Country Championships, held in the south eastern city of Jinja on Saturday (1).&nbsp; The 2009 world cross-country silver medallist, who just missed out on adding to his medal collection when he finished fourth at the 2013 championships in Bydgoszcz, won the 12km race in 36:37. He was six seconds in front of Daniel Rotich, with the former world cross country junior men’s bronze medallist Moses Kibet a distant third in 37:04.“Many had written me off after the World Championships,” stated the champion, who is now shifting his focus to the African Cross Country Championships, which this year will be held on home soil in Ugandan capital Kampala on 16 March.&nbsp; “I had taken time off the public scene since then to concentrate on my preparations for this competition. Let's wait and see what happens at the African Cross Country Championships.”Stella Chesang, who was fourth over 3000m at the IAAF World Youth Championships last summer, is another contender for medals for the host nation next month and the 17-year-old looked in good shape as she dominated the junior women’s 6km race in 20:59, winning by 17 seconds from Phanise Chemutai.&nbsp; Other winners in Jinja were Linet Chebet in the senior women's 8km race in 28:36 and Philip Kipyego in the junior men's 8km race in 23:58. Mutai upsets Kipyegon at South Rift ChampionshipsThere was a mild surprise in the senior women's race at the South Rift Cross Country Championships in Kenya on Saturday as Beatrice Mutai defeated Kenyan 1500m record-holder Faith Kipyegon, the winner of the Cinque Mulini in Italy last week.&nbsp; In the junior category, world youth 2000m steeplechase champion Roseline Chepngetich defeated strong opposition, including the world and African junior 3000m champion Mercy Chepwogen and double African junior medallist Sheila Chepngetich. No times were recorded in these races.Meanwhile, new names emerged in the men's races with Philip Langat and Hillary Kipkemoi winning the senior and junior categories respectively.Other noteworthy performances on Saturday came from African junior 5000m champion Moses Mukono, who won the junior race at the Nairobi Province Championships on Saturday while Cornelius Kangogo won the senior race at the North Rift Province Championships.Kangogo, still only 20, had been an impressive fourth at the IAAF Cross Country Permit meeting in Antrim, Northern Ireland, last month.The provincial championships mark the final qualification stage in the build-up to the Kenyan Cross Country Championships, which incorporates the only IAAF Cross Country Permit meeting on African soil, on 15 February. The top six runners from each race gained selection to represent their province at the Uhuru Gardens in Nairobi in two weeks' time.&nbsp; Tigabea defends in ValladolidEthiopia's Spain-based Marta Tigabea won the Cross Internacional Ciudad de Valladolid for the third time, beating a largely domestic field over 6.725km on Sunday (2).The 23-year-old won the 26th edition of this race in 23:47, taking the plaudits ahead of local runners Alba Garcia and Paula Gonzalez, who were second and third in 23:52 and 23:58 respectively.Samuel Tsegay became the first Eritrean to prevail in the senior men’s race as the marathon specialist won the 10.725km race in 30:24, ten seconds ahead of Spain’s 2013 World Championships 3000m steeplechase representative Roberto Alaiz. Serbia’s world junior 1500m silver medallist Amela Terzic delivered a popular victory on home soil at the annual White Cross race in Belgrade, winning over a shortened 2km course in 6:34 on Sunday. It was the fifth consecutive victory in the event for Terzic, the 2012 European junior cross country champion, who first won the race in 2010 when she was just 16. She edged closer to the record seven consecutive wins by Olivera Jevtic between 1994 and 2000.Muamer Asanovic completed the second half of the Serbian double by taking top honours in the men’s 5km race in 15:34.Steven Mills (with assistance from Kip Evans and Namayo Mawerere) for the IAAF

Moses Kipsiro acquired his sixth victory in the last seven years at the Ugandan Cross Country Championships, held in the south eastern city of Jinja on Saturday (1). 

Kipsiro in winning form on the road to Kampala – cross-country round-up

Moses Kipsiro scored his fourth victory in succession at the Ugandan Cross Country Championships, held in the south eastern city of Jinja on Saturday (1).  

Two days before turning 20, teenager Cornelius Kangogo gave himself an early birthday present by landing a surprise win at the Corrida Pedestre Internationale de Houilles, an IAAF Bronze Label Road Race held over 10km on Sunday (29).Fellow Kenyan Micah Kogo, three times a winner in Houilles and a former world record-holder for the distance, was the pre-race favourite and was out to avenge his second-place finish from last year. But once again the 2008 Olympic 10,000m bronze medallist had to settle for the runner-up spot.Ethiopia’s Afera Godfay – who, like Kogo, had finished second in Houilles last year – took the women’s race by a comfortable margin over team-mate Worknesh Degefa, who also improved by one place compared to 12 months ago.Competing in what appears to be his first road race – as well as being the farthest distance he has ever contested – Kangogo showed no fear.Roughly two thirds into the race, Kangogo moved into the lead as Kogo, Erick Ndiema and Dawit Weldesilasie tried to chase.Their efforts were in vain, though, as Kangogo forged ahead to win in 27:57. For the second year in succession, Kogo took second place some nine seconds behind his younger compatriot.At the 42nd edition of a race that has produced many close finishes in recent years, the last time there was a bigger winning margin was back in 2003.Winner of the Great South Run this winter, Emmanuel Bett made it a Kenyan clean sweep, taking third place in 28:07, just one second behind Kogo.Godfay goes one better than last yearWhile Kogo failed to improve on his second-place finish from last year, Ethiopia’s Afera Godfay succeeded in doing so in the women’s race.In Houilles 12 months ago she was dragged around to a big PB of 31:52 as she finished just two seconds behind compatriot Ruti Aga.Godfay’s performance this time was 14 seconds slower, but it was still more than enough to win comfortably.The 22-year-old was tracked for most of the way by Worknesh Degefa and Morocco’s Rkia El Moukim. In the final stages El Moukim drifted off the leaders as Godfay began to open a lead.Godfay stopped the clock in 32:06, six seconds ahead of Degefa as El Moukim clocked 32:34 for third place, her first podium finish in Houilles after finishing fourth in 2010 and 2011.Jon Mulkeen for the IAAFLEADING RESULTSMen 1 Cornelius Kangogo (KEN) 27:57 2 Micah Kogo (KEN) 28:06 3 Emmanuel Bett (KEN) 28:07 4 Dawit Weldesilasie (ERI) 28:09 5 Phillip Kipyeko (UGA) 28:19 6 Erick Ndiema (KEN) 28:20 7 Samuel Tesfaldet (ERI) 28:41 8 Solomon Mutai (UGA) 28:45 9 Yassine Mandour (FRA) 28:46 10 Damte Kuashu (ETH) 29:07Women 1 Afera Godfay (ETH) 32:06 2 Worknesh Degafa (ETH) 32:12 3 Rkia El Moukim (MAR) 32:34 4 Tish Jones (GBR) 33:05 5 Lauranne Picoche (FRA) 33:42 6 Christine Bardelle (FRA) 33:48 7 Fathia Fauvel (FRA) 33:50 8 Mekdes Woldu (ERI) 34:01 9 Marisa Barros (POR) 34:03 10 Maryna Damantsevich (BLR) 34:14

Two days before turning 20, teenager Cornelius Kangogo gave himself an early birthday present by landing a surprise win at the Corrida Pedestre Internationale de Houilles, an IAAF Bronze Label Road Race held over 10km on Sunday (29).

Kangogo surprises Kogo in Houilles

Ethiopia’s Hiwot Ayalew continued her good form of recent weeks and won the women’s 6.55km race at the Cross L’Acier in the French town of Leffrinckoucke on Sunday (24).Seven days after winning the IAAF Cross Country Permit race in Atapuerca, Spain, the 2013 World cross-country silver medallist made it two wins in a row around the town’s Fort de Dunes, a set of World War I military fortifications, crossing the line in 22:30.Ayalew had a tremendous race-long duel with Kenya’s Linet Masai, a three-time World cross-country silver medallist and twice a previous winner at the French race, before she eventually prevailed by one second; a much narrower margin of victory than the nine-second advantage she had over the same rival on Spanish soil the previous week. However, there was some satisfaction for Kenya as Cornelius Kangogo retained his men’s title at the Cross L’Acier, winning the men’s 9.5km race in 28:07.Ethiopians filled the next two slots behind Kangogo with Azmeraw Mengistu second in 28:14 and 17-year-old Yihunlign Adane third in 28:28.It is worth noting that Adane, 13th in the junior men’s race at the 2013 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, will not only still be a junior next year, where he will have medal ambitions at the IAAF World Junior Championships, but also in 2015 when the next edition of the IAAF World Cross Country Championships will be held in the Chinese city of Guiyang. Elsewhere in France, Italy’s Nadia Ejaffini won the women's 4.86km race in 17:53 at the 56th edition of the famous Cross Volvic in Clermont Ferrand on Saturday. She was followed home by local runner Clemence Calvin, who was second in 18:06. In the men’s 7.39km, Kenyans took the top three places with Paul Melly winning in 24:03. Moses Kitungat was second in 24:04 and Charles Ogari third one second further back.The third Cross della Valsugana in Levico Terme on Sunday was the selection race for Italian runners ahead of next month’s SPAR European Cross Country Championships in Belgrade and Patrick Nasti won the men’s 9km race in 29:26.Second was Gabriele Carletti in 29:27 and third was the evergreen 39-year-old Gabriele De Nard in 29:32. Valeria Roffino won the women’s 7km race in 25:26 with Silvia La Barbera second in 25:39.There were local successes at the 35th Cross de Toledo on the outskirts of the historic Spanish city with Mohamed Marhoum winning the men’s 9km race in 27:47 and Marta Silvestre taking the honours in the women’s 7km race in 24:48.There was a double success for Burundian runners at the Hubert Andre Cross Country races in Camaux, France, on Sunday. In the men’s 8.1km race, Jean-Claude Niyonizigiye won in 25:02, ahead of Belarus’s Maksim Pankratov who was 16 seconds behind. Godelieve Nizigiyimana was the best in the women’s 4.38km race in 14:51, with Ukraine’s Olena Petrova second in 15:03.Phil Minshull for the IAAF

A round up of the weekend's cross country races.

Ayalew defeats Masai at Cross L’Acier, Kangogo successfully defends men's title

Ethiopia’s Hiwot Ayalew continued her good form of recent weeks and won the women’s 6.55km race at the Cross L’Acier in the French town of Leffrinckoucke on Sunday (24).