Analia Rosa wins the women's race at the 25th edition of the Torres Vedras International Cross Country (© Marcelino Almeida)
Lisbon, Portugal Kenyan Peter Kamais and Portugal’s Analia Rosa took the lead from the second laps of their respective races and were never passed again at the 25th edition of the Torres Vedras International Cross Country - EAA permit - meeting today.
For the Kenyan it was his second consecutive win in two weeks in cross country races in Portugal, for Rosa, her victory is an improvement from her second place last weekend in Oeiras.
MEN – World Cross berth the goal
On a day which featured two kinds of weather, sunny, most of the time, and rain, with one or two clouds, without any wind, during the rest, Kamais the winner in last weekend in Oeiras, finally achieved a victory in Torres Vedras having been beaten in the last two years) by his countrymen Kiprono Menjo, winner in 2004, and more from Festus Langat last year.
Kamais' win was built from the second of the six laps of the course, and he has the strength, shape and confidence to achieve a place in his national team for the World Cross Country Championships next March in Mombasa.
For the winner it was “an easy race, without competitors in as good shape as I am. Now, I have strong confidence in myself and I’m working to get a place in my country's team for the World Cross, and I will then explore my abilities in 5000m races on the track, trying to get a place in the World Championships (in Osaka) with a great performance.”
Distant in second and third respectively were Kiprono Menjo (31:40) and Festus Langat (31:49).
The Portuguese runner Ricardo Ribas finished four seconds behind third place, 10 seconds ahead of the experienced Alberto Chaíça, Portugal’s 10,000m champion, who was fourth World Championship Marathon in 2003, 8th in the European
Championship marathon this year, and the winner in Torres Vedras in 1999.
WOMEN - A Portuguese tops the podium
Without many great foreign competitors, the Portuguese runners, especially Anália Rosa, national champion in 2004 and 2005, in both races - long and short, took the lead from the second lap increasing her advantage in each kilometre, to win by 21 seconds from Marina Bastos. Sandra Teixeira, a 800 / 1500 metres specialist (13 place in the last European Championship in 1500m), who is preparing for her indoor season, was further adrift in third.
Magdaline Chemjor (pb: 10km – 32:07), 5th in the 2003 World Cross, from Kenya, was run off the podium this year, in fourth. For Rosa, who was 10th in the European Championship marathon, and is preparing for the World Championship marathon in Osaka, her run “was better than last weekend, but it’s natural, because I’m getting better, with more training and competitions, and I have more four weeks to go to the European Cross Country championship, where I intend to be in great shape, to get a good place.”
António Manuel Fernandes for IAAF
Results
Men (9.6 km)
1. Peter Kamais KEN 31:17
2. Kiprono Menjo KEN 31:40
3. Festus Langat KEN 31:49
4. Ricardo Ribas POR 31:53
5. Alberto Chaíça POR 32:03
6. Abraham Cherono KEN 32:29
7. Joseph Keino KEN 32:31
8. Carlos Silva POR 32:41
Women (5.2 km)
1. Anália Rosa POR 18:47
2. Marina Bastos POR 19:08
3. Sandra Teixeira POR 19:25
4. Magdaline Chemjor KEN 19:29
5. Mounia Aboulahcen BEL 19:33
6. Dulce Félix POR 19:42
7. Clarisse Cruz POR 19:49
8. Carla Martinho POR 20:00
