Nibret Melak from Ethiopia and Teresiah Muthoni Gateri from Kenya claimed wins at the 90th edition of the Cinque Mulini in San Vittore Olona – the 11th Gold level meeting of this season’s World Athletics Cross Country Tour.
Nibret won for the second consecutive year, becoming the second Ethiopian athlete in the history of the men’s race to win at least two consecutive editions after Fita Bayisa, who triumphed four times in a row from 1992 to 1995. Muktar Edris is the only other Ethiopian athlete to have won twice, but not in consecutive years.
The lead pack was whittled down to six athletes during the second lap. Kinyanjui took the initiative, going through the second lap mark in 11:49, closely followed by Worku, Melak, Levy, Takele and Chelimo.
Tedesse Worku stepped up the pace during the fourth lap and only Melak, Kibet and Takele were able to keep up with the 20-year-old. The leading quartet went through the bell in 23:06 and battled it out over the final lap.
Nebret unleashed his kick in the final 150m to cross the finish line in 28:33, holding off Kibet by two seconds. Tadesse completed the podium, finishing third in 28:36.
Nebret made his breakthrough last March when he finished second at the Campaccio race in San Giorgio su Legnano one week before claiming the win at the Cinque Mulini. During the summer season the 22-year-old Ethiopian runner improved his PB to 12:54.22 in the 5000m at the Ethiopian Olympic Trials in Hengelo, qualifying for the Olympic Games. In the current World Cross Country Tour Gold series, Nebret Melak finished third in Seville and second in Venta de Banos.