In a race of exceptional quality Rodrigue Kwizera made it a hat-trick of senior men’s titles at the European Champions Clubs Cup Cross Country in Albufeira on Sunday (2).
The Burundian international added a third title to his previous victories in 2022 and 2023, beating last year’s winner training partner and Playas de Castellón clubmate Thierry Ndikumwenayo, who won bronze medals over 10,000m at the Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships and at the Antalya 2024 SPAR European Cross Country Championships.
In perfect calm and cool running conditions, a blistering tempo was set in the early stages by Kenyan Charles Rotich of Sporting Clube de Portugal which quickly splintered the main field but the small chasing pack which also including the eventual gold and silver medallists, plus 2024 solver medallist Oscar Chelimo of Atletica Casone Noceto and Gideon Rono of Benfica.
Blistering pace
By halfway, Rotich was still pushing the pace at the front with Kwizera tracking his every move and a five second gap back to Ndikumwenayo, Chelimo and Rono.
Kwizera’s pressure eventually told, and he took over at the front soon after. The tiring Rotich became a target for the chasers as Ndikumwenayo began to rally, moving up to second. Early on the last lap, it looked as if Ndikumwenayo might just reel in Kwizera.
However, the experienced Kwizera, eighth in the 2023 World Cross Country Championships, held firm taking victory in 27:02 - 13 seconds faster than Ndikumwenayo's time on the same course 12 months ago - on the 9.26km course with Ndikumwenayo 15 seconds adrift. The brave Rotich recovered from his bad patch about two kilometres from the finish and rallied for bronze in 27:18 while Chelimo and Rono were fourth and fifth respectively in 27:44 and 27:53.
The team title went to Spain’s Playas de Castellón for the third successive year with Miguel Martínez in seventh their third scorer behind Kwizera and Ndikumwenayo.
Portugal’s Benfica took team silver through Rono, Miguel Moreira (eighth) and Etson Barros (15th) and bronze went to Sporting Club de Portugal courtesy of Rotich, Rui Pinto (12th) and Rúben Amaral (17th).
Chris Broadbent for European Athletics