28th November 2011 11:34
Atelaw Bekele cruised to victory on home soil at the European Athletics Cross Country Permit Race in the Belgian town of Roeselare on Sunday.
Bekele, the bronze medallist in the under 23 race at the 2009 SPAR European Cross Country Championships, pulled away midway through the 9.41km race to cross the line in 28:00.
He finished nine seconds in front of his nearest rival, Eritrea's Mulue Andon.
“I didn’t expect to win so easily. I hope that I can keep my condition at this level until the SPAR European Cross Country Championships. Last year, I just came back from injury (when he finished in 54th place in his senior race debut) but this time I will be at my best. I’m confident that I will perform well,” said Bekele, who has recently been training at high altitude in Ethiopia, where he was born.
The 2011 SPAR European Cross Country Championships will be in Velenje, Slovenia, on 11 December.
Ukraine's Yulia Ruban showed that she has recovered quickly from her win in the Torino Marathon two weeks ago when she won the women's race over 6.25km 21:00.
Ruban came home three seconds in front of the Belgian runner Veerle Dejaeghere, following an outstanding run over the second half of the race after lying a distant third at the halfway point before overhauling Dejaeghere with 200m to go.
“I’m very happy with this victory. Two weeks ago, I won the Torino Marathon in 2:27:10. To perform so well in cross-country after such an event is fantastic. Now, I will rest a few weeks. I won’t be in Velenje but I’m sure it will be a marvellous competition,” commented Ruban.
Belgian women filled the next three behind Ruban and Dejaeghere with Barbara Maveau third in 21:07, Sandra Schenkel fourth in 21:19 and Selien De Schrijder fifth in 21:29.
Bekele, the bronze medallist in the under 23 race at the 2009 SPAR European Cross Country Championships, pulled away midway through the 9.41km race to cross the line in 28:00.
He finished nine seconds in front of his nearest rival, Eritrea's Mulue Andon.
“I didn’t expect to win so easily. I hope that I can keep my condition at this level until the SPAR European Cross Country Championships. Last year, I just came back from injury (when he finished in 54th place in his senior race debut) but this time I will be at my best. I’m confident that I will perform well,” said Bekele, who has recently been training at high altitude in Ethiopia, where he was born.
The 2011 SPAR European Cross Country Championships will be in Velenje, Slovenia, on 11 December.
Ukraine's Yulia Ruban showed that she has recovered quickly from her win in the Torino Marathon two weeks ago when she won the women's race over 6.25km 21:00.
Ruban came home three seconds in front of the Belgian runner Veerle Dejaeghere, following an outstanding run over the second half of the race after lying a distant third at the halfway point before overhauling Dejaeghere with 200m to go.
“I’m very happy with this victory. Two weeks ago, I won the Torino Marathon in 2:27:10. To perform so well in cross-country after such an event is fantastic. Now, I will rest a few weeks. I won’t be in Velenje but I’m sure it will be a marvellous competition,” commented Ruban.
Belgian women filled the next three behind Ruban and Dejaeghere with Barbara Maveau third in 21:07, Sandra Schenkel fourth in 21:19 and Selien De Schrijder fifth in 21:29.