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More news articles Bezabeh and Bekele take top honours in Bilbao
Pre-race favourites Alemayehu Bezabeh and Alemitu Bekele won the individual titles at the European Champions Club Cup Cross Country in Bilbao
EUROPEAN cross-country champion Alemayehu Bezabeh from Spain defended his title at the European Champions Club Cup Cross Country in Bilbao, also leading Bikila Toledo to the team gold medal on February 7.
The Olympic 5000m finalist covered the 10km course in 32:19 to retain his individual title, defeating club-mate Ayad Lamdassem by one second while Italian veteran Gabriele De Nard comprised the podium in third, also leading his team Fiamme Gialle to the silver medal in the team race.
Newham & Essex Beagles finished eighth in the team race, led by Guernsey's Lee Merrien, who finished 17th and 68 seconds behind the winner.
Rory Chesser finished 36th, Kairn Stone placed 39th, Kevin Skinner finished 52nd, Dave Mitchinson was 58th while Scott Sterling finished 70th.
European indoor 3000m champion Alemitu Bekele from Turkey took top honours in the individual women's race, defeating her Uskudar Belediyesi Spor Kulub clubmate Belaynesh Olijera.
European junior cross-country champion Karolina Bjerkeli Grovdal took third for Noway, while Asli Cakir was the third counter for the Turkish team in fourth.
Even though Spor Kulub had three counters in the first four places, 2006 winners Sport Club Luch Moscow packed laudably and led by Mariya Konovalova, the Russian team packed four runners in the top 19, to pip their Turkish rivals by one point.
Les Croupiers finished 14th in the women's team race. Katie Beecher finished 55th, Maria Zubizaretta finished 60th, Libby O'Duffy finished 62nd, Jen Salter was 70th and Liz Ashton was 72nd.
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