World Cross Country: Kenya, Ethiopia win first two gold medals of the day

Favourites Kenya won gold in the Mixed Relay in the first race of the 42nd edition of the IAAF World Cross Country Championships.

The Kenyan team, for whom 1500m star Asbel Kiprop ran the anchor leg, barely looked in trouble under the scorching heat of Kololo airstrip despite Beatrice Chepkoech crossing the line only eight seconds ahead of Ethiopia superstar Genzebe Dibaba.

Team Ethiopia wins gold and silver in the the Under-20 Women World Cross Country championship race at Kololo Independence Grounds

Uganda's team of Winnie Nanyondo, Geofrey Ruto, Dorcus Ajok and Ronald Musagala came in fourth ahead of Bahrain and Morocco to narrowly miss out on the medal bracket.

Team Kenya celebrating after their mixed relays win

Guest of honour President Museveni, who opened the Games earlier, handed out medals to Kenya, Ethiopia and Turkey.

The Championships have attracted over 500 athletes from 59 countries.

An official hoists the Ugandan flag at the kick-off of the World Cross Country Championship at Kololo Independence ground in the capital, Kampala

Fan in the pavilion at Kololo Independence ground

Ethiopia's Letesenbet Gidey successfully defended her junior title

Jacob Kiplimo won the Gold for Uganda in the junior Men's race

Mixed Relay results

 

 

Kenya 22:22

 

 

Asbel Kiprop 

 

Winfred Ndiwa Mbithe 

 

Bernard Kipkorir Koros

 

Beatrice Chepkoech 

 

Ethiopia 22:30

 

Welde Tufa

 

Bone Cheluke

 

Yomif Kejelcha

 

Genzebe Dibaba 

 

Turkey 22:37

 

Aras Kaya

 

Meryem Akdag

 

Ali Kaya

 

Can Yasemin 

 

Uganda 23:03

Winnie Nanyond

 

Geofrey Ruto

 

Dorcus Ajok 

 

Ronald Musagala