Nearly 100 European distance runners were contested for a tight battle in French city of Pace to securing continental 10K challenge. Both men’s and women’s race occured slowly to comparing latest editions as Yemaneberhan Crippa and Alina Reh crowned the individual winners.
Crippa, the eccentric Italian who won European 10,000 metres gold in Munich last summer, wins men’s A final with 28:08.83 – half a second ahead of Israel’s Tadesse Getahon after a close final lap face-off. The Italian record holder held the race under control until last turn and kicked to win by 56-seconds closing lap. Getahon helped much to Israel for their historic team title over Italia by edging them just nine seconds overall, additional contribution of fourth-placer Gashau Ayale and top 10 finisher Dereje Chekole.
In the men’s race, former European 5000 metres champion Ilias Fifa burst up to scene seven years later. The 34-year-old Spaniard clocked 28:12.62 to clinch bronze medal. Last year’s greatly celebrated French team members have not fully returned to Pace for another occasion but still they have managed to get team podium as third.
Women’s race have suffered absence of the biggest names in continent including Olympic champion Sifan Hassan, who was due to run same hour in Hengelo meet 10K race, and Turkey’s injured European Cup champion Yasemin Can.
German Alina Reh easily took her chance well and clinched first European Cup win by some margin. The 1.75 tall German from Laichingen has distanced herself rest of the group around third kilometres and past 4K mark within 10-seconds lead. She turned around 72-75 seconds for every lap to commanding her lead until finish line. She clocked 32:15.47 season best to crowning as European Cup winner as Ukrainian Valeria Ziinenko brought first medal in women’s race to own country since 2007. Domenika Mayer accompanied to team-mate Alina Reh on the podium as she finished third with the time of 32:35.95.
In the result of the presence of double representative on the podium, Germany retained women’s team crown over Spain (they’ve got 15th team medal in the cup history) and surprising Ukraine.
