Itálica Cross 2026: Kwizera wins again and Amebaw leads an elite women's field
By AthRecs Editorial · 3 min read
Rodrigue Kwizera completed a third Itálica victory with a one-second winning margin. Likina Amebaw made a decisive move in the women's race, while the under-20 champions earned important titles of their own.
Three men sprinted for places separated by no more than two seconds at the 44th Cross Internacional de Itálica, on the famous course near Seville. Burundi's Rodrigue Kwizera was first in 27:37, Kenya's Charles Kiboino second in 27:38 and his compatriot Frankline Kibet third in 27:39, according to World Athletics and the organiser's official classification.
Kwizera was not a surprise name at the front. He had won the race in 2021 and 2025 and arrived in 2026 after setting a Spanish half-marathon record of 58:03 at Valencia. Yet the narrow finish gave his third win fresh drama — reputation counts for little when the line is only a stride away.
Likina Amebaw of Ethiopia won the women's international race in 30:41, with Charity Cherop and Cynthia Chepkirui taking second and third. Younger athletes competed in their own races, too, including the under-20 champions whose performances should be recorded with the same precision as the senior winners.
International podiums and Spanish performances
Kwizera's 27:37 brought him his third victory at Itálica, matching the three titles of Kenenisa Bekele at the event. Charles Kiboino, whose full name is shown differently by some secondary reporters, was a single second behind. Frankline Kibet crossed third in 27:39.
Kibet arrived with a remarkable junior record: he won the world U20 cross-country title in Tallahassee in January and the world U20 5000m title later in 2026. A senior international podium at Itálica was another important step in the 19-year-old's progression.
Spain's Thierry Ndikumwenayo finished fifth in 27:59, with Miguel Ángel Martínez Chazarra sixth in 28:00. They were the leading home-country men, making their mark in a field containing some of the strongest cross-country runners in the world.
| Division | Place | Athlete | Nation | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men | 1 | Rodrigue Kwizera | Burundi | 27:37 |
| Men | 2 | Charles Kiboino | Kenya | 27:38 |
| Men | 3 | Frankline Kibet | Kenya | 27:39 |
| Women | 1 | Likina Amebaw | Ethiopia | 30:41 |
| Women | 2 | Charity Cherop | Uganda | 30:49 |
| Women | 3 | Cynthia Chepkirui | Kenya | 30:57 |
Sources: Official men's international results · Official women's international results
Under-20 victories for Cabezas Moreno and González Fernández
Likina Amebaw came into Seville having won at Amorebieta in October, part of a sequence of major cross-country successes. At Itálica she made the decisive move late to finish in an organiser-recorded 30:41. Uganda's Charity Cherop followed in 30:49, with Kenya's Cynthia Chepkirui third in 30:57.
The senior women continued with fine home performances. Carolina Robles Campos was the first Spanish athlete, eighth in 32:51, and María Forero Pérez was ninth in 33:16. Their places deserve to be recorded with their national representation, not overlooked because the winners came from elsewhere.
| Division | Place | Athlete | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women U20 | 1 | Carla Cabezas Moreno | 17:29 |
| Women U20 | 2 | Mara Rolli Grau | 17:34 |
| Women U20 | 3 | Amanda Román Vázquez | 17:48 |
| Men U20 | 1 | Álvaro González Fernández | 14:16 |
| Men U20 | 2 | Alejandro Ibáñez | 14:21 |
| Men U20 | 3 | Adriá Boyano Requena | 14:28 |
Sources: Official U20 girls results · Official U20 boys results · All official event divisions · World Athletics women's and men's event results
A race that connects champions across generations
Kwizera's third Itálica title adds him to a select historical group, while Amebaw's 2026 season has included wins over different terrain and fields. Their cross-country performances belong in their wider athlete records, not isolated as single results.
Frankline Kibet's senior podium demonstrates the crossover from junior championship success to elite racing. The under-20 competitors in separate categories should also receive credit, subject to the platform's youth privacy safeguards and official age-group verification.
Sources: World Athletics Itálica preview and athlete histories · Likina Amebaw – World Athletics athlete profile · World Athletics Frankline Kibet 2026 report
Quick answers
Who won the 2026 Itálica Cross?
Rodrigue Kwizera won the men's international race in 27:37 and Likina Amebaw won the women's international race in 30:41.
Who won the under-20 categories at Itálica 2026?
Carla Cabezas Moreno won the female U20 race in 17:29 and Álvaro González Fernández won the male U20 race in 14:16.