Hilda Kibet of The Netherlands dished out the best individual performance among European athletes finishing sixth in the women's seniors race at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Amman.

Portuguese women provided the only silver lining for Europe winning a team bronze medal at the 37th IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Amman, Jordan,  an event totally dominated by two African countries - Kenya and Ethiopia.

Their gold medal score ended this year equal, both Kenya and Ethiopia bagging 4 gold medals each. In terms of individual medals from 12 at stake, only three remained for other countries (two for Uganda and one for Eritrea).  

In all four team contests they were again 1-2 respectively with bronze medals going to Eritrea (2) and one each to Japan and Portugal. The medal for Portuguese women was the only one for Europe. However the European performance is a shade better than the last edition in Edinburgh, where they failed to win even a single medal.

Women: Kibet fifth

Florence Kiplagat emerged as only the second female Kenyan long course winner in the history of the event after Hellen Chepngeno back in 1994. The Renato Canova coached athlete clocked at 8 km 26:13 and remained unbeaten in this year's Cross Country season.

SPAR European Cross Country Champion Hilda Kibet of the Netherlands was the best among European athletes finishing sixth with a timing of 26.43.

Silver medallist from Edinburg Linet Masai (26:16) finished second, while Meselech Melkamu dished out the best performance from an Ethopian winning her fourth individual bronze in 26:18. Linet Chepkurui was fourth clocking 26:23 and helped Kenya to win the title clearly with 14 points.

Interestingly favorites from milers department could not finish higher than 8th (Gelete Burka, 26:58) and 9th (Maryam Jamal, 27:00). Best non-African born athlete was New Zealand´s Kim Smith as 13th (27:05) with Portugal´s Ana Dulce Felix 15th (27:42). That helped Portugal to get the team bronze (72) ahead of Spain (117).

Multiple European junior champion Stephanie Twell of Great Britain, in her world stage senior debut finished 38th in 28:46. 

Men: Gebremariam rides home on experience

Experienced Ethiopian Gebre-egziabher Gebremariam in dramatic finish clocked 35:02 to win at 12 km. He won already silver in 2004 and bronze medal in 2003. Ugandan world medalist at 5000 m Moses Kipsiro was second (35:04) and that is first ever senior male medal for the country. Third the 2007 champion and last year bronze winner Zersenay Tadese of Eritrea (35:04).

Spaniard Carles Castillejo was the best among non-African born finishing 26th (36:30), while Australian Collis Birmingham as 29th (36:38). Spain finished as the best European team in 7^th position (140).

Junior women: Dibaba defended

Young sister of double Olympic winner Genzege Dibaba defended the junior women title at 6 km with three seconds (20:14) margin over best Kenyan and track world junior champion Mercy Cherono (20:17). The bronze medal went to for 16-year-old Kenyan Jackline Chepngeno (20:27).

2008 SPAR European Cross Country Junior bronze medallist Briton Lauren Howarth was the best among European athletes finishing 13^th, exactly one minute behind the winner. Great Britain was the best European team finishing in fourth position with 82 accumulated points.

Junior Men: Abshero gets gold

Reigning silver medallist Ayele Abshero won the second junior individual gold for Ethiopia winning the 8 km race in 23:26. Russian Andrey Dmitriev was the best among European Athletes finishing 50th (25:58, 3:32 behind the winner). Spain with 282 points emerged as the leading European team finishing in 13^th position.

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