Bezabeh leads Spanish and European challenge in Bydgoszcz – European Athletics (EAA) – News

Spain will be bidding for rare European medals in the senior men's race at the IAAF Cross Country Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland, on Sunday thanks principally to the presence of their European champion Alemayehu Bezabeh.

Bezabeh won at the 2009 SPAR European Cross Country Championships in December, also leading Spain to the team gold medals, and stands a good chance of being the first male European runner to stand on the podium at the championship since 2001.

On that occasion, in very muddy conditions in the Belgian coastal town of Oostende, Belgium's Mohammed Mourhit and the Ukraine's Sergey Lebid took first and second place.

The course in Bydgoszcz is expected to be similar, possibly providing the most testing World Cross Country Championships in the last nine years, which opens up the possibilities that European runners might be able challenge their African rivals who dominate the discipline.

"I now want to win the world title in Poland. I now think I can do it. If I train hard and arrive there in good shape I know I can beat the Ethiopians," said Bezabeh, after winning his European title in Dublin three months ago.

Few who saw him in action that day, when he dominated the race, doubt his ability to be in contention for a place on the podium on Sunday.

He will also go to Poland in good spirits with two wins under his belt in his last two races, taking the 2010 European Champion Clubs Cup Cross Country title in February and then winning the Spanish national title on 7 March. The two victories were bracketed with a stint training in Ethiopia, where he was born.

There is also quiet optimism that Spain could get a team medal, after finishing as the leading European team last year in seventh place.

The last time a European senior men's team was on the podium at the World Cross Country Championships was also in 2001, when France finished second.

The Spanish senior men's team also includes Ayad Lamdassem, who was fifth in Dublin, and the experienced internationals Carlos Castillejo and Javier Guerra, who were both part of Spain's winning squad in Dublin.

Sergio Sanchez is missing, taking a rest after his indoor exploits which included setting a European indoor 3000m record and getting the silver medal over the same distance at the recent World Indoor Championships. However, an interesting name in the Spanish squad is Antonio Jiménez.

Jiménez, or Penti as he is widely known in Spanish running circles owing to his second family name of Pentinel, was the 2002 European Athletics Championships 3000m steeplechase silver medallist and is approaching his best form again after struggling with injuries last year and failing to qualify for the World Championships.

The Spanish women's team finished fourth in Jordan 12 months ago and might be in contention for a similarly high placing again. The squad is lead by Rosa Morató, the silver medallist at the 2009 SPAR European Cross Country Championships.

European Athletics (EAA) – News