Kenyan double for Tanui and Kipyegon at Cinque Mulini

The Cinque Mulini is an annual cross country running race in San Vittore Olona, Italy. First held in 1933, the course is unusual in that it revolves around a number of water mills, which lend the competition its name – meaning Five Mills in Italian.

It is one of the IAAF cross country permit meetings that act as qualifiers for the IAAF World Cross Country Championships. As one of the most prestigious meets, numerous world record holders and Olympic champions have competed at the Cinque Mulini throughout its history.

Giovanni Malerba organised the first competition in 1933 as a reaction to a competition in a neighbouring village which revolved around seven clock towers. The competition has been held every year since its inception, including throughout the Second World War and in 1939 when the Federazione Italiana di Atletica Leggera (FIDAL) ordered that all cross country competitions be postponed.

The course was altered from 10 km to 12 in the late 1930s, in order to accommodate all five mills. The race began to grow after being selected as the course for the Italian Cross Country Championship in 1946 and 1949.  (Wikipedia)

Paul Tanui and Faith Kipyegon added their names to the prestigious roll of honours on Sunday (26) at the 82nd edition of the Cinque Mulini, the eighth IAAF Cross Country Permit meeting of the 2013-2014 season.

Both Kenyans wore bib number six which the organisers traditionally give to the favourites and they lived up to their reputation with impressive wins ahead of world-class fields on a sunny but windy day in San Vittore Olona.

LEADING RESULTS (IAAF)

Men’s (10.2km)
1 Paul Tanui (KEN) 29:59
2 Alex Kibet (KEN) 30:01
3 Thomas Lokomwa (KEN) 30:03
4 Geofrey Kusuro (UGA) 30:05
5 Mukhtar Edris (ETH) 30:33
6 Yiuhniligh Adane (ETH) 31:19
7 Alemayehu Bezabeh (ESP) 31:34
8 Michele Fontana (ITA) 31:45
9 Adriano Engelhardt (SUI) 32:02
10 Martin Dematteis (ITA) 32:15

Women (6km)
1 Faith Kipyegon (KEN) 20:54
2 Gemma Steel (GBR) 21:28
3 Jenny Simpson (USA) 22:34
4 Valeria Roffino (ITA) 22:46
5 Giovanna Epis (ITA) 23:04
6 Sara Dossena (ITA) 23:16
7 Nathalie Schertenleir (SUI) 23:33
8 Simona Milesi (ITA) 23:40
9 Simona Santini (ITA) 24:01
10 Alice Rita Cocco (ITA) 24:27