Cross World Cup, Letesenbet Gidey like Dorando Pietri: collapses 20 meters from victory

Dramatic epilogue to the World Cross Country Championships in Bathurst, Australia. A story that recalled that of the Italian marathon runner Dorando Pietri in the London 1908 Olympics. The favorite of the women’s race, Letesenbet Gidey (world record holder of 5,000, 10,000 and half marathon), was in the lead after the 10 km race and by now practically certain of victory, but a few meters from the finish line she collapsed from fatigue.

The Ethiopian tried to get up, but saw the athletes following her pass by: therefore the 22-year-old Kenyan Beatrice Chebet conquered the gold and the world title, with 33’48”, ahead of the Ethiopian Tsigie Gebreselama ( silver) and to the other Kenyan, Agnes Jebet Ngetich (bronze). Gidey crossed the finish line, in fourth position, supported by a volunteer, but for this very reason she was then disqualified. In the first ten places of the women’s race, monopolized by Africans, Kenyans 5, Ethiopians 3 and Ugandans 2. The first non-African was the Japanese Nozomi Tanaka, 14th.

Triumph of Africa also in the men’s race, in which the Ugandan Jacob Kiplimo (22), Olympic bronze in the 10,000m, won ahead of the Ethiopian Berihu Aregawi and another Ugandan, the Olympic champion in the 5,000m in Tokyo 2020, Joshua Cheptegei .
Kenya dominated the mixed team relay ahead of Ethiopia and Australia