As the CrossCup in Hannut beckons this Sunday, the spotlight shines on Belgium’s Isaac Kimeli and Kenya’s Edinah Jebitok, both gearing up for a compelling showdown in their respective races. Kimeli, eager to improve upon his runner-up finish last year, and Jebitok, aiming to continue her streak of triumphs in the World Athletics Cross Country Tour Gold meetings, are set to headline an event teeming with international talent.
In 2023, the snow-laden course in Hannut saw Kimeli finish a close second to France’s Yann Schrub. This year, the Belgian star, alongside compatriot Guillaume Grimard, will confront a formidable field over 9km. The lineup includes the likes of Uganda’s Rogers Kibet, Rwanda’s Yves Nimubona, and Burundi’s Egide Ntakarutimana, all of whom have shown promising form in their early 2024 campaigns.
Nimubona and Ntakarutimana, having commenced their season at the Campaccio in Italy, finishing third and fourth respectively, are in fine fettle. Nimubona, following up with a personal best of 27:49 over 10km in Valencia, is a contender not to be underestimated. Similarly, Kibet’s impressive eighth-place finish in Valencia, clocking 27:07, makes him a noteworthy challenger, especially recalling his 15th-place finish at last year’s World Cross Country Championships in Bathurst.
Grimard, returning after his sixth-place finish in San Giorgio su Legnano, is another athlete to watch. Meanwhile, Kimeli, debuting his season in Hannut, carries the momentum of a successful previous year, including a commendable 13th place in the 10,000m at the World Championships in Budapest and an 11th-place finish at the European Cross Country Championships in Brussels.
In the women’s 9km race, Jebitok emerges as a favorite, following her victories in Seville and Venta de Banos. The 22-year-old Kenyan, who placed eighth in Bathurst, has already kicked off her season with a second-place finish in Elgoibar, narrowly missing the top spot to world champion Beatrice Chebet.
Joining Jebitok in the women’s race is Pamela Kosgei, Bathurst’s U20 bronze medalist, alongside Britain’s Megan Keith, last year’s third-place finisher in Hannut and European U23 champion in the 5000m and cross country. Keith, too, arrives on a high note, having set a personal best of 31:22 on the roads in Valencia.
The Hannut field is further bolstered by Italy’s Giovanna Selva and Hungary’s Lili Anna Vindics-Toth, who secured top spots at the Campaccio, as well as Kenya’s Faith Chepkoech and Belgium’s Jana Van Lent. As these athletes converge in Hannut, the stage is set for a cross country spectacle that promises to blend seasoned finesse with emerging talent, keeping the spirit of competitive athletics alive and thriving.
