Balew, Winfred claim podium places in Spain XC meet

TDT | Manama                      

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com   

Bahraini elite athletes Birhanu Balew and Winfred Yavi both finished on the podium of their respective races in the 79th Elgoibar Juan Muguerza Cross-Country meeting in Spain.

Balew was classified as runner-up in the 10.796-kilometre men’s race while Winfred took third place in the women’s 7.621km women’s event.

Balew completed his run in a time of 33 minutes 27 seconds—just 13 seconds behind winner Selemon Barega of Ethiopia.

Adel Mechaal of Spain came third in 33:39, while completing the top six were Abderrahmane Afendi of Morocco and Spaniards Aaron Las Heras and Carlos Mayo.

It was the second international race for Balew in a week’s time, having previously also finished a close second in the 10-kilometre men’s race at the 66th Campaccio-International Cross Country meeting in San Giorgio su Legnano in Italy.

Meanwhile, Winfred took third place in a time of 25:58. She finished behind winner Rahel Daniel of Eritrea, who completed the distance in 25:43, while Edinah Jebitok of Kenya was second in 25:51.

Rounding out the top six in the race were Margaret Chelimo Kipkemboi of Kenya, Francince Niyonsaba of Burundi and Poppy Tank of Great Britain.

The event marked Winfred’s first race of the new calendar year. The Elgoibar meeting was a Gold-level meeting part of the World Athletics Cross Country Tour.