Kenya’s Sheila Jebet dominates Hannut Cross Country Meet

Jebet turned the tables on Ethiopia’s Yenenesh Shimket and Uganda’s Charity Cherop in the women’s race, claiming the top spot in a time of 31:01.

The 19-year-old finished second to Shimket at the Cinque Mulini and Cherop in Cardiff in November.

Belgium’s Roxane Cleppe took an early lead and was followed by her compatriot Chloe Herbiet and a group featuring Jebet and Shimket near the front.

Jebet, who finished fourth in the U20 race at the World Cross Country Championships last year, then led an attack and held the lead by the end of the second lap.

Shimket was the only one who managed to go with her and they were followed by her fellow 17-year-old Cherop, Kenya’s Glorious Jepkirui and Cleppe.

Jebet and Shimket were well away by the fourth loop but Jepkirui’s race came to an end as she pulled up after appearing to lose a shoe.

The Kenyan looked comfortable as she moved away from Shimket and had a clear lead with one loop remaining. She glanced over her shoulder but couldn’t sense any immediate danger and pushed on, eventually finishing six seconds clear.

Jebet was followed by Shimket in 31:07 and Cherop in 31:22, while Herbiet and Cleppe completed the top five.

In the men’s race, Gideon Rono finished third after cutting the tape in 27:29, behind the winner, Rogers Kibet of Uganda, who clocked 27:03 and Burundi’s Celestin Ndikumana who came in second in 27:23.

Kibet, who bettered his performance in Hannut in 2022, where he finished runner-up, strung the lead group out during the second lap and made a decisive move on the third loop, kicking away to leave Ndikumana and Rono among his chasers.

While the top two spots looked decided, Rono and Hendrix were locked in battle for a place alongside them on the podium.

As Kibet strode away to victory and Ndikumana followed, Rono finished strongly to clinch third place ahead of Hendrix and his Belgium compatriot Nicolai Sake, who slid on his stomach over the finish line.

Leading results:

Women
1 Sheila Jebet (KEN) 31:01
2 Yenenesh Shimket (ETH) 31:07
3 Charity Cherop (UGA) 31:22
4 Chloe Herbiet (BEL) 31:38
5 Roxane Cleppe (BEL) 31:41

Men
1 Rogers Kibet (UGA) 27:03
2 Celestin Ndikumana (BDI) 27:23
3 Gideon Rono (KEN) 27:29
4 Robin Hendrix (BEL) 27:41
5 Nicolai Sake (BEL) 27:44

Additional reporting by World Athletics