Ayeko and Toroitich on the podium
9th November 2019 – One of the appeals of Athletics is that it takes place all year round and on multiple surfaces. No sooner had the IAAF World Championships concluded and we were straight off to the Marathon Majors in Chicago and New York, and now hot on their heels the new IAAF Cross Country Permit series has begun.
The opening meet was the 16th Cross Internacional de Atapuerca in Burgos, Spain, and Thomas Ayeko (UGA) and Timothy Toroitich (UGA) once again showed their cross-country prowess.
Thomas, who was seventh at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships earlier this year, made much of the running here over the 9km course. Timothy, who has become a regular feature in the Spanish races and rarely finishes outside the podium positions, hung on to the lead group as they navigated their way round the twisty course with several man-made mounds per circuit.
On this occasion they had to succumb to the faster finishing speed of local athlete Ouassim Oumaiz, with Thomas finishing second and Timothy third, both in 22:56 and only 3 seconds behind the leader.
All three will line up again at the next round which takes place in Soria in eight days’ time.
Article Tags: Thomas Ayeko, Timothy Toroitich