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Cross de Itálica 2026: Kwizera matches Bekele with third win, Amebaw takes women's race

Races3 min read
On this page
  1. In short
  2. Men's race
  3. Women's race
  4. Context
  5. Limits
  6. Sources

Men's race

Kwizera crossed the line in 27:37, one second ahead of Kenya's Charles Kiboino (27:38) and two ahead of 19-year-old Frankline Kibet (27:39), the world U20 cross-country and 5000m champion making his senior international debut. The trio entered the final 200 metres together before Kwizera decided it in the sprint.1

  1. Rodrigue Kwizera (ESP): 27:37
  2. Charles Kiboino (KEN): 27:38
  3. Frankline Kibet (KEN): 27:39
  4. Denis Kipkemoi (KEN): 27:52
  5. Thierry Ndikumwenayo (ESP): 27:59

For Kwizera it is a third Itálica title after 2021 and 2025: he equals Kenenisa Bekele's record of three wins in the event's roll of honour, which began in 1982. Born in Burundi, Kwizera obtained Spanish nationality in May 2026, and this is his first Itálica win under the Spanish flag.1,3 Berihu Aregawi (ETH) finished ninth in 28:24. Among the Italians, Luca Alfieri was 13th in 28:48 and Nicolò Bedini 21st in 29:13.2

Women's race

Amebaw broke away with a change of pace at the bell and won in 30:41, eight seconds ahead of Uganda's Charity Cherop (30:49). Kenya's Cynthia Chepkirui was third in 30:57.1,2

  1. Likina Amebaw (ETH): 30:41
  2. Charity Cherop (UGA): 30:49
  3. Cynthia Chepkirui (KEN): 30:57
  4. Yenenesh Shimket (ETH): 31:24
  5. Maurine Chebor (KEN): 32:02

The Netherlands' Amina Maatoug was seventh (32:18), the first European across the line; Spain's Carolina Robles was eighth (32:51).2

Context

The race, a Gold-level meeting of the World Athletics Cross Country Tour, was held over a four-lap circuit around the ruins of the ancient Roman city of Itálica, with 5,057 entrants across categories according to the organisers: a figure reported by sources and not independently verifiable.4 Amebaw arrived from the world 5km road title in Copenhagen 2026 and a win at the Amorebieta cross three weeks earlier; she is based in Peguerinos, in the Spanish province of Ávila.1,4

Limits

  • Times and places come from the official World Athletics results, already published. Some media (Marca, others) report times one second faster (27:36 and 30:40): we use the official source here.
  • The third-placed woman appears as Chepkirui in the official results and Chepkurui in the World Athletics report: we use the results spelling.
  • We do not report splits, weather or equipment: not relevant or not verifiable in the sources consulted.

Sources

  1. World Athletics, "Kwizera and Amebaw triumph in Seville", 8 November 2026. worldathletics.org. Race report, quotes and top-ten lists read on 9 November 2026.
  2. World Athletics, official results, XLIV Cross Internacional de Itálica, 8 November 2026. worldathletics.org. Full times and classifications read on 9 November 2026.
  3. Marca, "El español Kwizera y la etíope Amebaw ganan el Cross de Itálica", 8 November 2026. marca.com. Kwizera's Spanish nationality and roll of honour read on 9 November 2026.
  4. EFE (via Infobae), "Likina Amebaw cumple los pronósticos y asfixia a la concurrencia en Itálica", 8 November 2026. infobae.com. Amebaw's season context and women's race development read on 9 November 2026.

Sources read on 9 November 2026.

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