Yasmine Can: Kenyan-born Turkish Runner Shines in Spain

Turkish runner Yasemin Can  celebrates winning the 2022Cross International de Italica on November 20, 2022 in Spain.
Turkish runner Yasemin Can celebrates winning the 2022Cross International de Italica on November 20, 2022 in Spain.
PHOTO:
Courtesy
World Athletics.org

Kenyan-born Turkish international Yasemin Can won the 2022 Cross Internacional de Itálica race held in Spain on Sunday, November 20 in fantastic fashion.

The 25-year-old obliterated the field to narrowly beat the East African duo of Peruth Chemutai and Purity Chepkirui.

Can, who switched allegiance from Kenya to Turkey in 2015, outshone the race favorites to cross the finishing line in an impressive time of 00:32.31.

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Chemutai, the reigning 3,000m Steeplechase Olympic champion from Uganda, came closely second in 00:32.34.

Kenya’s representative in the race, Purity Chepkirui gave a spirited fight to settle for a third-place position in 00:33.47.

The fourth and fifth place positions went to Spanish Under 23 champion Isabel Barreiro and compatriot Marta Garcia respectively.

In the men’s category, 2022 World Athletics Championships 10,000m silver medalist Stanley Waithaka Mburu did not make it to the podium.

Waithaka registered a fourth-place position behind fellow countryman Levy Kibet who clocked 00:28.57 to finish third.

The race was won by Burundi’s Thierry Ndikumwenayo who has performed brilliantly in the cross country races that he has taken part in recently.

Speaking after the race, Ndikumwenayo who trains in Spain, stated that he was surprised to win another international title in a space of eight weeks.

“This is my third win in a row this cross country season. I'm surprised because I only began to train a couple two months ago after the summer break but I feel great both physically and mentally.

"I'll now stop competing and will do a 25-day training camp in the altitude of Sierra Nevada (3479m). My next event might be a New Year’s Eve race in Spain but it's not confirmed yet," he ended.

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