Ethiopian runner Likina Amebaw and Burundian athlete Egide Ntakarutimana claimed the elite titles at the 72nd Cross Internacional Zornotza in Amorebieta, Spain, on a cool and sunny morning at the Jauregibarria fields.

Amebaw Secures Third Title in Amorebieta

Likina Amebaw dominated the women’s elite race to secure her third victory at the Basque cross-country fixture, matching the three-win record previously set by Kenyan runner Magadalene Masai between 2013 and 2015. Amebaw crossed the finish line 31 seconds ahead of her nearest competitor, leaving the rest of the field behind.

Burundian athlete Francine Niyomukunzi finished second behind Amebaw, while Kenyan runner Mirian Cherrop rounded out the podium in third place. BM Bilbao Atletismo runner Carla Lorrany Arce Pereira finished as the top-performing Spanish athlete in the field. The 26-year-old, born in Brazil and raised in Villanueva de la Serena, finished ahead of teammate Jihad Essouabi El Idrissi in ninth place, while Azucena Díaz Calvo took 17th. Uxue Mardaras Sustacha finished as the highest-placed local runner from Biscay, taking 19th place for LEA La Blanca.

Ntakarutimana Controls the Men’s Elite Field

In the men’s race, Egide Ntakarutimana established his intent shortly after the starting gun, breaking away from the main pack to secure a comfortable margin. The Burundian runner maintained his lead throughout the course, finishing half a minute ahead of compatriot Elie Sindayikengdera to capture his first victory at the Zornotza event.

Kenyan competitor Peter Rono claimed the bronze medal in third place. Spanish runner Sergio Paniagua Escolar, representing Playas Castellón, finished fourth, missing a podium spot by seven seconds. Ismail Bouraga, running for Getxo, finished as the top local athlete from Biscay in 22nd place.

Basque Cross-Country Tradition Continues

The 72nd running of the Cross Internacional Zornotza unfolded the morning after the Bilbao Night Running Fest drew 27,000 participants to nearby Bilbao, maintaining a busy weekend for regional athletics. The Jauregibarria venue provided a morning at the level of the lineup for the international field following youth preliminary races that preceded the senior elite competitions.