Peter Kamais stands on the left of the podium with Adam Ismael (BRN) (c), and Rui Pedro Silva (POR) at the 2005 Torres Vedras EAA Cross (© loc)
Albufeira, PortugalThere were no real surprises at the 29th edition of the Almond Blossom Cross Country - IAAF permit - held today in heavy rain and cold conditions. Kenyan Peter Kamais won the men’s event reasonably comfortably, while Latvia’s Jelena Prokopcuka fought hard to live-up to her role as the women’s race favourite.
MEN
Peter Kamais kept in contact with the changing leading group most of the time, breaking away two laps from the finish line of this 10km race to win in 28:01. But the rhythm of the race was imposed by Mubarak Hassan Shami of Qatar, the World Half marathon silver medallist who eventually ended up in third behind Tiemuay Molla of Ethiopia in 28:04.
“The intense rain didn’t represent any problem for me,” said Kamais. “I always felt very good on the course, keeping up with the leading group. I decided to go in the front when I felt it was the right moment. Last year I was second now I am happy to finally win.” Kamais was second in the Torres Vedras Cross earlier this season in Portugal (27 Nov 2005).
Ricardo Ribas in fifth (29:13) was the best Portuguese beating his colleague Rui Pedro Silva (6th, 29:14) and with Manuel Damião (7th, 29:17), in a dramatic final sprint battle after keeping up with the African athletes for much of the race.
WOMEN
Jelena Prokopcuka, multiple national record holder at a variety of track and road distances but most famous as the winner of the 2005 New York Marathon, ran away from the field in the second of the three laps winning in 19:32.
The Latvian had a small margin of victory of five seconds from the Portuguese Anália Rosa (19:37), with another local Ana Dias finishing third (19:42).
“The cold and rain represented no problem for me,” said the winner. In Latvia, my home country, sometimes it reaches 10 degrees below zero. So it was not that cold. I am not a cross country racer. I came here to check my shape.”
Fernanda Ribeiro, two-time Olympic and four-time World Championships medallist, and the winner of this race in 2003 (and third in 2005), had been considered the most likely threat to Prokopcuka but had to withdraw from the race with a back injury.
Event date to change?
Lara Ramos from the organising committee hopes that the meeting can return the event to the last Sunday of February as soon as possible: “This date, the last Sunday of January, isn’t favourable for our organisation since it takes place at the same time other important events. Nevertheless, we still managed to gather a good group of runners which makes us proud.”
Paulo Costa for the IAAF
Results
Men’s 10km
1. Peter Kamais (KEN) 28:01
2. Molla Tiemuay (ETH) 28:04
3. Mubarak Hassan Shami (QAT) 28.06
4. Kirui Kibet (KEN) 29:11
5. Ricardo Ribas (POR) 29:13
6. Rui P. Silva (POR) 29.14
7. Manuel Damião (POR) 29:17
8. Mohamed Kallouche (MOR) 29:57
9. José Rocha (POR) 29:59
10. Mário Teixeira (POR) 30:00
Women’s 6km
1. Jelena Prokopcuka (LAT) 19:32
2. Anália Rosa (POR) 19:37
3. Ana Dias (POR) 19:42
4. Jasim Saleh (Bahrain) 19:47
5. Leonor Carneiro (POR) 19:48
6. Natalia Pavlovskaia (Rus) 19:49
7. Jessica Augusto (POR) 19:53
8. Inês Monteiro (POR) 19:58
9. Justyna Lesmen (POL) 20:00
10. Marina Bastos (POR) 20:06
