Kenya's William Nyarondia Morwabe and Sylvia Mboga Medugu were on the 30km podium as Lidingöloppet opened the World Athletics Cross Country Tour season in Lidingö, Sweden, on Saturday, 26 September.Download Our MozzartSport App For More NewsThe two were eyeing wins on the opening weekend, with Medugu, a winner in 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022, aiming to become the first woman to win the 30km race five times while Morwabe was out to defend the men’s title after making a remarkable winning return last year, after a six-year absence.However, 2024 champion Ebba Tulu Chala, who lost to the Kenyan by just 11 seconds last year, took charge of the men's race early, building a 46-second lead by the 15km mark at Fågelöudde and continued to move away. He maintained his lead to win in 1:38:50.##NAJAVA_MECA_9985363##Sweden’s David Nilsson finished strongly to secure second place in 1:40:55, one year on from winning the 15km. Morwabe, who won ahead of Chala last year, narrowly held on to third place in 1:41:06.“It was a bit windy, cold and slippery, and I had to run alone, but my body felt good,” said Chala, “I'm in good shape and felt like I had it the whole way."Meanwhile, Swedish 10,000m champion Evelina Henriksson secured top spot for the first time after two consecutive third-place finishes, claiming the crown by almost three minutes.Assefa threatens Chepngetich's World record in Berlin as Adola reclaims titleKenya’s four-time winner Medugu was second in 1:56:26, repeating her placing from last year, while Sweden’s Hanna Lindholm was third in 1:56:53.“The race went better than I had imagined,” Henriksson told organisers. “Previously it felt very heavy in the first mile, so I expected that, but it felt very easy the whole way. Everything flowed."Elsewhere, Egide Ntakarutimana and Francine Niyomukunzi ran race records to win the 15km events. The duo secured a double for Burundi, clocking 44:36 and 51:25 respectively.Ntakarutimana won ahead of his compatriots Tharcisse Nizigiyimana and Elie Sindayikengdera, while Niyomukunzi clinched the crown ahead of Sweden’s Johanna Bäcklund and Smilla Szalkai.Athletics Great Kipchoge Keino reveals how Kenya stands to profit from 2029 World ChampionshipsLeading ResultsWomen’s 15km1 Francine Niyomukunzi (BDI) 51:252 Johanna Bäcklund (SWE) 55:273 Smilla Szalkai (SWE) 56:404 Louise Wiker (SWE) 57:325 Fanny Schulstad (SWE) 57:56Men’s 15km1 Egide Ntakarutimana (BDI) 44:362 Tharcisse Nizigiyimana (BDI) 45:273 Elie Sindayikengdera (BDI) 46:484 Jonathan Grahn (SWE) 47:015 Karl Ottfalk (SWE) 47:13Women’s 30km1 Evelina Henriksson (SWE) 1:53:282 Sylvia Mboga Medugu (KEN) 1:56:263 Hanna Lindholm (SWE) 1:56:534 Frida Michold (SWE) 1:58:325 Emy Thorén (SWE) 1:59:11Men’s 30km1 Ebba Tulu Chala (SWE) 1:38:502 David Nilsson (SWE) 1:40:553 William Nyarondia Morwabe (KEN) 1:41:064 Leonid Latsepov (EST) 1:41:065 Mohammadreza Abootorabi (SWE) 1:42:10
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