We Speak Track And Field
Tulane’s Kiptanui and Kimutai Sweep the American Conference Cross Country Honors
Tulane closed the cross country weekly-awards season the way it opened it — with a sweep. Silas Kiptanui and Blezzin Kimutai claimed the American Conference’s final Cross Country Athlete of the Week honours of the season, just as Kiptanui and Petra Dos Santos swept the conference’s first awards back in September.
Kiptanui won the Under Armour Pre-Nationals in 23:17.4 — the 11th-fastest time in program history — moving from 22nd at the 3K mark to first at the finish in a field of 339 finishers that included six top-30 teams. It was his second race win and second weekly award of the season.
Kimutai finished eighth at the Arturo Barrios Invitational in 19:39.9, the fifth-best 6K time in Tulane history, as the Green Wave women placed third with 136 points in a 48-team field. Both ends of the roster, both ends of the season: Tulane bookended the fall.
We Speak Track And Field
Yehualaw Returns in Valencia as Kwizera Chases Spanish History
Yalemzerf Yehualaw returns from maternity leave in Valencia on Oct. 25, Rodrigue Kwizera chases a first Spanish win, and Kenenisa Bekele is also on the start list.
The Valencia Half Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 25 brings together a returning superstar, a man chasing national history, and one of the greatest distance runners of all time.
Yalemzerf Yehualaw headlines the women’s race in her return from maternity leave. The Ethiopian last raced at the Boston Marathon in April 2025, finishing third in 2:18:06, and her half marathon personal best of 1:03:51 — run on this course in 2021 — makes her the fastest woman in the field. She faces Lisbon champion Tsigie Gebreselama, world road running silver medallist Veronica Loleo and Ftaw Zeray on a course famous for fast times.
The men’s race could produce a first. Rodrigue Kwizera owns the fastest personal best in the field at 58:16, set in Prague earlier this year, and after receiving Spanish citizenship in 2026 he is chasing both the first Spanish men’s victory in Valencia and the Spanish record of 59:39. His training partner Thierry Ndikumwenayo, Andrea Kiptoo, Owen Kapkama, Daniel Ebenyo and 2018 winner Jemal Yimer are all in the field — along with Kenenisa Bekele, the three-time Olympic champion whose appearance alone will draw a crowd.
Britain’s Ben Connor, Charlie Wheeler and Samantha Harrison also feature. The course records — Yomif Kejelcha’s 57:30 and Letesenbet Gidey’s 1:02:52 — were both world records when set, which tells you everything about Valencia’s speed.
Photo: Canadian Running
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