Hellen Obiri and Mohamed Amdouni in the 10km, and Genzebe Dibaba and Jemmy Gressier, in the 5km

Hellen Obiri and Mohamed Amdouni in the 10km, and Genzebe Dibaba and Jemmy Gressier, in the 5km, were the winners of the Cursa dels Nassos, a test that once again dyed the streets of Barcelona with athletics on the last day of the year.

In the highest quality edition that is remembered, and where only a thousand popular people were able to enjoy this Barcelona athletic tradition, the Cursa dels Nassos enjoyed a 2020 for a few hours to forget, despite the fact that in the end none could be beaten of the world records they had set as targets.

Complicated start

In the women's 10km, events were precipitous from the start, when Hellen Obiri stumbled on a curve and fell to the ground. Carles Castillejo, who was going to be her hare throughout the race, waited for her, although a few meters later, in another tight curve, the Catalan athlete noticed a physical problem and had to leave the test, so the Kenyan had to stay alone.

Despite all the incidents, Obiri, Olympic 5,000 runner-up in Rio 2016 and 5,000 world champion in London 2017 and Doha 2019, recovered the pace and although without a record, completed a great race, with a final time of 30:53 , personal best and record of the race, but far from the best world mark of Joyciline Jepkosgei (29.43). The second place went to the Moroccan resident in the Basque Country Majida Maayouf (33:19), and third Marta Galimany, who as expected, could not repeat the triumph of last year. The Catalan finished with 33:52.

In the men's event, victory went to Frenchman Mohamed Amdouni, the 10,000-meter European champion, who dominated the race almost from the start. And it is that at the start the protagonism of him was for his compatriot and triathlete Raphael Montoya who escaped from the beginning although then Amdouni surpassed him and he already dominated the test alone the last 7km. With 27'42 ”he made the 2nd best European mark in the history and record of the race.

At the finish line, the second position went to Carlos Mayo, with 28:06, achieving personal best and best Spanish mark of 2020. Third concluded Jimmy Gressier, winner of the 5km contested only 15 minutes before, and who surprised with a time of 28: 13. Montoya was fourth with 28:18, and Kenyan Kipkoech Hillary, fifth with 28:28. The first 5 improved the race record, and no less than 24 athletes fell below 30 minutes, never seen in Catalonia in history.

Dibaba and Gressier, the best in the 5km

In the 5 kilometres there were no international records, but the favourites did meet the predictions. Ethiopian Genzebe Dibaba and French Jimmy Gressier were the best, while Esther Guerrero finished third in the women's event.

Dibaba entered the finish line with a time of 15:00, just 16 seconds behind the world record (14:44), achieving the best world mark of the year, and the best mark on Spanish soil. Then came her sister Anna Dibaba (16:02) and Esther Guerrero, third and first Spanish, with 16:03. Absolute Catalan record. The fourth place went to Alexia Lemitre (16:07), fifth Audie Clavier, with (16:30), both French. Elia Saura finished seventh, with 16:47, and Rosalia Tárraga, then, with 16:48.

Gressier won with a time of 13:39, the best mark on Spanish soil, 21 seconds behind the best European mark (13:18), which was the goal. The second place went to Santiago Catrofe, who finished with a time of 13:40, an absolute Catalan record. The podium was closed by Frenchman Yann Schurb (13:45).

Among the Spanish athletes, Pol Oriach was sixth, with 13:52, which is a record for Spain under-20, Adam Maijo, seventh, with 13:55, and Aaron de las Heras, eighth, with 13:57. Also highlighted was the veteran Reyes Estevez who was eleventh in goal with 14:03. 10 athletes dropped from 14 minutes.

Results and rankings

Male Category:

Elite 5 Km.