2018 African Cross Country Championships

The 2018 African Cross Country Championships was the fifth edition of the international cross country running competition for African athletes organised by the Confederation of African Athletics. It was held on 17 March in Chlef, Algeria – the first time a North African nation had hosted the event since its re-launch in 2011. There were five races on the program: 10 km for senior men, 10 km for senior women, 8 km for junior men, 6 km for junior women, and an 8 km mixed relay.[1]

2018 Africa Cross Country Championships
OrganisersCAA
Edition5th
Date17 March 2018
Host cityChlef, Algeria
Events5
2016
2024

Kenya again dominated the podium at the competition, taking the top two spots in the senior men's, senior women's, and junior men's races, as well as runner-up in the mixed relay. The 21-year-old Alfred Barkach had the first major win of his career in the senior men's race and 18-year-old Celliphine Chespol took the women's title, adding senior international honours to her world steeplechase titles at under-18 and under-20 level. Rhonex Kipruto won the men's junior title and went on to become 10,000 metres World U20 Champion later that year. Girmawit Gebrzihair claimed Ethiopia's sole individual title in the junior women's race, though her physical appearance raised questions about her eligibility for the under-18 category.[2]

Medallists edit

Event Gold Silver Bronze
Senior men's 10 km   Alfred Barkach (KEN) 30:47   Julius Kogo (KEN) 30:47   Thomas Ayeko (UGA) 30:47
Senior women's 10 km   Celliphine Chespol (KEN) 35:10   Margaret Chelimo Kipkemboi (KEN) 35:13   Yeshi Kalayu Chekole (ETH) 35:26
Mixed relay   Ethiopia
Taresa Tolosa
Netsanet Desta
Mogos Tuemay
Besu Sado
23:51   Kenya
Charles Simotwo
Emily Chebet
Bethwel Birgen
Winfred Mbithe
24:15   Morocco
Brahim Kaazouzi
Kawtar Farkoussi
Younès Essalhi
Fadwa Sidi Madane
25:07
Junior men 8 km   Rhonex Kipruto (KEN) 25:01   Stanley Mburu (KEN) 25:06   Solomon Berihu (ETH) 25:08
Junior women 6 km   Girmawit Gebrzihair (ETH) 20:40   Tsigie Gebreselama (ETH) 20:54   Hellen Ekalale (KEN) 20:55

Results edit

Senior men edit

Place Athlete Country Time Notes
  Alfred Barkach   Kenya 30:47
  Julius Kogo   Kenya 30:47
  Thomas Ayeko   Uganda 30:47
4 Enyew Mekonnen Alem   Ethiopia 31:01
5 Emmanuel Bor   Kenya 31:14
6 Philip Kipyeko   Uganda 31:19
7 John Chepkwony   Kenya 31:22
8 Filmon Ande   Eritrea 31:23
9 Mande Bushendich   Uganda 31:26
10 Tesfay Berhe Berhane   Eritrea 31:28
11 Kefasiteni Chitsala   Malawi 31:35
12 Nelson Wakana   Uganda 31:38
13 Melkashaw Eshete Kassa   Ethiopia 31:43
14 Samsom Amare   Eritrea 31:46
15 Ali Grine   Algeria 31:47
16 Mohamed Merbouhi   Algeria 31:49
17 David Manja   South Africa 31:56
18 Brhane Amanuel   Eritrea 32:00
19 Christian Manga   Senegal 32:13
20 Abe Gashaun Tilahun   South Africa 32:15

Senior women edit

Place Athlete Country Time Notes
  Celliphine Chespol   Kenya 35:10
  Margaret Chelimo Kipkemboi   Kenya 35:13
  Yeshi Kalayy Chekole   Ethiopia 35:26
4 Stacey Chepkemboi Ndiwa   Kenya 35:27
5 Stella Chesang   Uganda 35:30
6 Sandra Chebet   Kenya 35:47
7 Mercyline Chelangat   Uganda 35:53
8 Enatnesh Alamrew Tirusew   Ethiopia 35:57
9 Rosemary Njeri   Kenya 36:01
10 Gate Alemayehu Teklemichael   Ethiopia 36:08
11 Rahma Tusa Chota   Ethiopia 36:27
12 Perine Nengampi   Kenya 36:38
13 Janat Chemusto   Uganda 36:52
14 Linet Chebet   Uganda 36:59
15 Shasho Insermu Mijana   Ethiopia 37:21
16 Kesa Molotsane   South Africa 37:38
17 Zinash Estifo Banetirga   Ethiopia 37:46
18 Rima Chenah   Algeria 38:34
19 Riham Senani   Algeria 38:49
20 Glenrose Xaba   South Africa 39:04

Junior men edit

Place Athlete Country Time Notes
  Rhonex Kipruto   Kenya 25:01
  Stanley Mburu   Kenya 25:06
  Solomon Berihu Weldeselassie   Ethiopia 25:08
4 Berehanu Wendim Tsegu   Ethiopia 25:11
5 Milkesa Mengesha Tolosa   Ethiopia 25:13
6 Vincent Kipkemoi Ngetich   Kenya 25:14
7 Edwin Kiplagat Bett   Kenya 25:17
8 Edward Zakayo   Kenya 25:20
9 Dominic Kiptum Rotich   Kenya 25:31
10 Nibret Melak Bogale   Ethiopia 25:34

Junior women edit

Place Athlete Country Time Notes
  Girmawit Gebrzihair   Ethiopia 19:44
  Tsigie Gebreselama   Ethiopia 19:58
  Hellen Ekalale   Kenya 19:59
4 Agnes Jebet Ngetich   Kenya 20:06
5 Roselidah Jepketer   Kenya 20:08
6 Mirriam Cherop   Kenya 21:06
7 Mizan Alem Adane   Ethiopia 21:08
8 Edinah Jebitok   Kenya 21:21
9 Ejegayehu Taye Haylu   Ethiopia 21:23
10 Beatrice Chebet   Kenya 21:32

Mixed relay edit

Place Country Athlete Time
    Ethiopia Taresa Tolosa, Netsanet Desta, Mogos Tuemay, Besu Sado 23:51
    Kenya Charles Simotwo, Emily Chebet, Bethwel Birgen, Winfred Mbithe 24:15
    Morocco Brahim Kaazouzi, Kawtar Farkoussi, Younès Essalhi, Fadwa Sidi Madane 25:07
4.   Algeria Imad Touil, Abir Refas, Takieddine Heideli, Nabila Sifi 25:51

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Mulkeen, Jon (2018-03-17). Chespol and Barkach take top honours at African Cross Country Championships. IAAF. Retrieved 2019-08-04.
  2. ^ "Oh, Really? This '16-Year-Old' Ethiopian Athlete Became Center of Scandal at the World U20 Championships. Guess Why?". Nexter. Archived from the original on 2021-02-28.
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