Ebenyo, Jeruto lead Kenyan sweep of men and women’s 10 km races in Valencia

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND - SEPTEMBER 09: Norah Jeruto of Kenya celebrates winning the Women's 3000m Steeplechase during the Weltklasse Zurich, part of the Wanda Diamond League at Stadium Letzigrund on September 09, 2021 in Zurich, Switzerland. (Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images)

There was double delight for Kenya as Daniel Ebenyo and Norah Jeruto both claimed the men’s and women’s titles in their respective 10 km races in windy conditions in the Spanish city of Valencia on Sunday.

Ebenyo, 26, ran a personal best of 26:58 finishing ahead of Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Gudeta and compatriot Jacob Krop who came in second and third respectively.

Those times recorded by Gudeta and Krop of 27:10 and 27:23, respectively, were career and personal bests.

As for Ebenyo, this was his latest victory in a road race in Spain after he also finished first in the San Silvestre Vallecana

Meanwhile, race favorite Jeruto won the women’s title in a time of 30:35 defeating Karolin Grovdal who came in second three seconds later in a time of 30:38. Another Kenyan, Gladys Chepkirui, finished third in 30:48 after her Grovdal overhauled her about some 1500m remaining.

It was the 26-year-old’s first title win in her last four attempts after the previous three ended up with her securing a podium finish but not the title.