Daisy Jepkemei beats Grace Nawowuna at Cross Internacional

Former World U20 3000m steeplechase champion, Daisy Jepkemei outplayed Grace Loibach Nawowuna at the 20thh edition of the Cross Internacional de Atapuerca, a World Athletics Cross Country Gold Tour held on Sunday (27) in Atapuerca, Spain.

The 28 year-old who switched her allegiance to Kazakhstan two years ago, took charge of the race from onset with the 20 year-old Kenyan Nawowuna and Burundi’s France Niyomukunzi who was the race favorite.

The back, Spanish duo Carolina Robles and María Forero ran together.

After three kilometres, lead duo Jepkemei and Nawowuna extended the gap to a 10-second advantage on Niyomukunzi, herself another 14 seconds clear of the Spanish duo.

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Portugal’s Mariana Machado, Germany’s Elena Burkard and Spain’s Idaira Prieto were a further eight seconds behind.

When the race reached the midway point, the 2021 Olympic steeplechase finalist Robles broke away from 2022 European Burudian surprisingly lost ground seven minutes into the race as Jepkemei averaged a brisk 3:06/km pace. Further U20 cross-country champion Forero, while the lead duo’s advantage over Niyomukunzi had increased to 25 seconds.

During the final lap Nawowuna attempted to move into the lead but it was short-lived and just when she taught all was well, a surprise kick emerged from Jepkemei with only 200m to go and the Kenyan failed to respond to it leaving the 2013 Africa Youth 2000m steeplechase champion, to take the race home, cutting the tape in 25:00, just two seconds ahead of Naowuna.

Niyomukunzi was forced to settle in third, more than a minute behind the victor, while Robles finished fourth in 26:40 with Burkard coming home in fifth place in 26:48.

LEADING RESULTS

8KM SENIOR WOMEN

1. Daisy Jepkemei                 (KZK) 25:00
2. Grace Nawowuna             (KEN) 25:02
3. Francine Niyomukunzi     (BDI) 26:18
4. Carolina Robles                 (ESP) 26:40
5. Elena Burkard                   (GER) 26:48