‪Your U20 women’s winner at #iaafkampala2017 is Ethiopia’s Gidey!‬
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Lisabet Gidey won her second consecutive U20 World Cross Country title!
The U20 women’s race had 108 runners from 30 countries, with sixteen full teams. Gidey and nine other runners broke away from the pack early, with Gidey always near the front. The heat and humidity took its toll on the field, but Gidey persisted and her win, by a convincing 23 seconds, showed her level of fitness. Gidey won in 18:34.
In second was Ethiopian Hawi Feysa, with a time of 18:57. Kenyan Celliphene Chespol lead the Kenyan team, who finished second, with 20 points to Ethiopia’s 19 points. In third was Uganda with 63 points and Japan was fourth in 73 points.
The U.S. U20 women’s team was 12th of 16 teams, with a score of 212 points. US finishers were Michelle Magnani, 37, Logan Morris, 45, Aubrey Roberts, 56, Madison Fruchey, 74, Kristian Garcia, 78 and Megan Murray, 83.
The race conditions were challenging, and hence, the photo circulated of the athletes down at the finish.
Las condiciones de calor y humedad están haciendo estragos. #iaafkampala2017
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The course was tough, with the fans close to the 2000 meter loop and the sounds of the fans everywhere. We listened to IAAF radio and the crowd could be heard each and every meter. What the U20 races also tell you is that many countries have some fine developing athletes. It also tells you which countries place value in developing young distance runners. With Lisabeth Gidey, and her Ethiopian country women, we see healthy distance running in Ethiopia for some time to come!
Author
Larry Eder has had a 52-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Also does some updates for BBC Sports at key events, which he truly enjoys. Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."
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