The World Cross Country Running Championships for women in Australia ended in a bizarre denouement on Saturday. Top favorite Letesenbet Gidey collapsed just before the finish and was passed by three competitors.
The Ethiopian Gidey seemed unthreatened on his way to the title, but fell to the ground just before the finish due to fatigue. She was then overtaken by the new world champion Beatrice Chebet from Kenya, her compatriot Tsigie Gebreselama and the Kenyan Agnes Jebet Ngetich.
Gidey, world record holder in the 5,000 meters, 10,000 meters and half marathon, managed to get to her feet with the help of her coach and crossed the finish line fourth, but was disqualified for that help. In the final round, the 24-year-old athlete had placed her attack, to which no one initially had an answer.
Among the men, Jacob Kiplimo from Uganda is the new world champion. His compatriot and defending champion Joshua Cheptegei quickly put the pace into the match, but Kiplimo proved to be the better in the final round. The Ethiopian Berihu Aregawi was second, ahead of Cheptegei.
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