Itálica International Cross Country 2026: Clash of Champions

The Itálica International Cross Country 2026 brings together Rodrigue Kwizera, Thierry Ndikumwenayo, Berihu Aregawi and Likina Amebaw on 7 and 8 November in Santiponce (Seville). The 44th edition takes place at the Itálica circuit, with a 9,550-metre course for the main races.

A Gold event in Santiponce

Organised by the Seville Provincial Council, the Itálica International Cross Country is a Gold-level event on the World Athletics circuit. According to Diario de Sevilla, it is the third Gold event of the 2026-2027 circuit.

The competition takes place across Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 November, with races open to the public, youth events and the international races.

Kwizera seeks third title against Ndikumwenayo and Aregawi

Kwizera, the winner in 2021 and 2025, is aiming for his third victory in Itálica, a tally only Kenenisa Bekele has achieved. The 27-year-old arrives having set national records of 27:15 for 10 kilometres and 58:03 for the half marathon after his performance in Valencia.

Ndikumwenayo has also won twice in Santiponce, in 2022 and 2024. The European cross-country champion, who won the title last December in Lagoa, completed the Valencia Half Marathon in 58:09.

Aregawi, a 25-year-old Ethiopian, returns after finishing third in 2024. He is a three-time world cross-country silver medallist and Olympic silver medallist over 10,000 metres. He finished second at the World Championships in Tallahassee in January and then won the Elgoibar Cross Country.

The international field includes Kenya’s Frankline Kibet, a two-time world under-20 champion, as well as Andrew Alamisi, Denis Kipkoech and Uganda’s Samuel Simba Cherop.

The Spanish contingent includes Aarón Las Heras, steeplechase record holder Fernando Carro, national champion Dani Arce, miler Ignacio Fontes and Spanish cross-country champion Nassim Hassaous.

Amebaw starts as favourite in the women’s race

Ethiopia’s Likina Amebaw arrives as favourite after winning the World Athletics Ultimate in Budapest and a title in Copenhagen. She finished third in Itálica last year.

Her rivals include Kenya’s Maurine Chebor and María Forero from Huelva, the reigning European under-23 champion over 5,000 metres and in cross country. Also competing are Carolina Robles from Seville, Marta Serrano, Carla Gallardo, Ángela Viciosa and Alice Finot, the European 3,000-metre steeplechase record holder.

Schedule: night cross country and public races

On Saturday afternoon, the second mixed public night cross-country race takes place over 7,180 metres. From early Sunday, there will be youth categories, short public cross-country races over 4,810 metres, the flagship international race and a mixed public cross-country relay.