No world sporting event has ever been such a procession. East Africa’s dominance of the World Cross Country Championships is not a recent trend and all the evidence from Saturday’s races in Belgrade suggests that this is not going to change.
The unusual heat in the Serbian capital did not help the European cause, but of the 27 medals on offer across the five games, all but one were shared among three countries: Kenya (11), Ethiopia (10) and Uganda (5).
Great Britain, which won bronze in the team medley relay, was the only other country among the 51 competing countries to reach the medal podium. The truth is few came even close to the East Africans, both individually and collectively.
Conditions at the city’s Friendship Park also made for brisk running, 27C temperatures certainly favoring the East Africans as well, and for the eight Irish entries the aim was to finish in the top half of the race, with Hugh Armstrong leading the race. men’s front in 50th place.
The 29-year-old from Ballina, making his event debut, also ran sensibly, moving up the field in the second half of the 10km race, which was won by defending champion Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda, ahead of Ethiopia’s Berihu Aregawi and Kenya’s Benson. Kiplangat. This was the only gold medal not won by Kenya or Ethiopia.
Not far behind Armstrong, Mayo team-mate Keelan Kilrehill finished in 56th place.
Encouragingly perhaps, the best Irish performances of the day came in the women’s under-20 race, Anna Gardiner of East Down AC and Kirsty Maher of Moy Valley AC both breaking into the top-40, finishing 37th and 39th respectively.
For Gardiner, who turned just 18 on the day, represents further progress, the race won by little-known Ethiopian Marta Alemayo, reportedly just 15, leading Ethiopia to medals, with Asayech Ayichew and Robe Dida finishing second and third respectively.
Kenya filled the top five in the senior women’s race, Beatrice Chebet defended her title as Kenya also won the team race with just 10 points, Ethiopia second with 41. Irish cross country champion Fiona Everard of Bandon AC she finished 63rd, two places ahead of Danielle Donegan of Tullamore Harriers AC.
In the under-20 men’s race, Harry Colbert of Waterford AC and Seamus Robinson City of Derry Spartans AC, both in the Irish team that won gold at the European Cross Country Championships in Brussels late last year, finished 55th and 70th respectively .
Samuel Kibathi also ensured that the race remained a mere possession of Kenya as they won another team and individual gold.