Ivo Hendrix for the IAAF - Brussels, Belgium – Sergiy Lebid and Jessica Augusto are coming to Brussels with a mission. The Ukrainian finished third at the European Championships last week in Dublin, a competition he had won 8 times before while the Portuguese counted amongst the favourites to win the European title, but faded badly into fourth place. Both are eager to take revenge for what happened in Ireland, but the challenge will be very tough indeed.
Winner of the Brussels 2007 edition Paul Kipsiele Koech takes on Sergiy Lebid, who won the European title on the Brussels course last year. The Kenyan world class steeplechaser feels comfortable on the demanding hilly sections and will be difficult to beat. But Lebid is far more experienced when it comes to cross country running and the Ukrainian will not want to let victory slip away from him. A thrilling duel is in the making.
World 10,000m junior champion Josphat Bett Kipkoech is another contender for the highest honours around the Brussels Atomium. The 19-year-old Kenyan has the stamina to keep up with any kind of pace, but is he familiar enough with the truly European conditions that will reign over Brussels next Sunday?
The European interest in the race is further represented by European Under-23 champions Andrea Lalli (ITA-2008) and Nordine Smaïl (FRA-2009). It is good to see the most promising European youngsters defending their chances against a strong international field.
Morocco sends out Fatah Ouchen and Saïd Trahat and Tola Mekonnen heads the delegation that defends the Ethiopian colours. Dame Faisa Tasame has made a strong impression in his early season races. The Belgian-based Ethiopian can be one of the surprise actors in the race.
Jessica Augusto was hugely disappointed last Sunday when she finished just outside the medals at the European Cross Country Championships in Dublin. The Portuguese pre-race favourite wasn’t able to recover from a bad start and faded dramatically in the latter stages of the race to finish only fourth. Augusto will try to wipe that bad experience out with a convincing performance in Brussels.
The threat is almost the same as it was last week, with Adrienne Herzog (NED), Ana Dulce Felix (POR), Freya Murray (GBR), Tatyana Holovchenko (UKR) and Fionnuala Britton (IRL) amongst the competitors. But the strongest competition may well come from Kenyan Ines Chenonge.
The local fans are fixing their hopes on Almensh Belete, an Ethiopian refugee who is aiming to become eligible to run for her new country. The 20-year-old Belete is gradually coming of age and has demonstrated extremely good shape in her cross country races so far this season.
A major factor did show up since Thursday. Heavy snowfall has covered the course with approximately 20 centimetres of snow and snowfall is likely to continue in the next days. Snow will certainly contribute to the Christmas atmosphere but it will also be an additional challenge for the athletes.
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