Egide Ntakarutimana dominates the 72º Cross Internacional Zornotza with a tactical masterclass

Burundi’s Egide Ntakarutimana delivered a commanding tactical masterpiece at the 72º Cross Internacional Zornotza on October 18, 2026. Taking place on the traditional mud of the Jauregibarria circuit in Amorebieta-Etxano, Spain, the Gold-level meeting of the World Athletics Cross Country Tour saw the Burundian international dictate the pace from start to finish. Running completely unbothered by the chasing pack, Ntakarutimana comfortably clinched the men’s senior title, headlining an incredibly fast day of racing.

From the moment the starting gun fired under mild and sunny skies, Ntakarutimana made his intentions absolutely clear. Rather than opting for the standard cross-country strategy of letting a leading group trade paces over the early laps, the 28-year-old unleashed an explosive burst immediately out of the gates.

His rivals were left flat-footed as he covered the opening loop at a relentless, track-like cadence. By the conclusion of the first major circuit, he had already established a substantial gap that effectively turned the remainder of the 8.7-kilometer contest into a solo time trial.

Ntakarutimana, who boasts an elite personal best of 12:46.73 over 5,000 meters on the track, perfectly utilized his sheer flat speed to handle the sweeping turns of the Basque course. His rhythm remained completely unchanged across the undulating terrain. Crossing the finish line in a blistering 25:19 minutes, he enjoyed a comprehensive 30-second margin of victory, further demonstrating his sensational international cross-country form this season.

With the gold medal essentially locked up by the halfway mark, the true excitement of the race shifted to the furious tactical battle for the remaining spots on the podium. A high-caliber chasing pack quickly formed behind the lone leader, consisting of Burundi’s Elie Sindayikengdera, Kenya’s Peter Rono, and a strong contingent of top-tier Spanish domestic runners trying to hold their ground on home turf.

Over the final two laps, Sindayikengdera and Rono began trading aggressive surges to break away from the rest of the field. The two African stars matched each other stride for stride through the mud, building a comfortable separation from their European pursuers.

It was only in the agonizing final 200 meters that the podium hierarchy was finalized. Elie Sindayikengdera found an extra gear in the final sprint, crossing the line in 25:49 minutes to secure a brilliant second-place finish for Burundi. He successfully staved off a late charge from Kenya’s Peter Rono, who crossed a mere two seconds later in 25:51 minutes to round out an impressive, all-African podium sweep.

Just outside the podium positions, the domestic athletes put on a thrilling show for the local crowds packed along the Jauregibarria barriers. Sergio Paniagua emerged as the standout European performer of the day. The extremeño runner stayed remarkably patient, letting the early frantic pace settle before initiating a calculated, progressive charge through the field.

Paniagua showed incredible grit over the concluding loop, isolating himself from the rest of the domestic pack and finishing a magnificent fourth overall in 25:58 minutes. His performance was a huge statement on the national stage, landing him just seven seconds away from a podium spot against a world-class international field.

Completing the coveted top five was fellow countryman Abdessamad Oukhelfen. Oukhelfen ran a highly strategic race, carefully monitoring the pacing of the secondary chase group before launching his own kick over the final kilometer. He crossed the line in a solid 26:10 minutes to lock down fifth place, barely holding off David de la Fuente, who completed the top six in 26:17 minutes.

The 72nd running of this legendary event certainly lived up to its lofty reputation. By providing a perfect blend of world-class African distance talent and elite Spanish standard-bearers, Amorebieta-Etxano once again set the benchmark for the winter cross-country calendar. With Ntakarutimana’s spectacular front-running show setting the tone, the upcoming stops on the World Athletics Cross Country Tour promise plenty of high-stakes drama.