Toroitich wins to send early warning

35TH CROSS INTERNACIONAL DE LA CONSTITUCIÓN

 MEN'S 10KM

1 Timothy Toroitich (UGA) 30:52

2 Aron Kifle (ERI) 31:01

3 Jairus Birech (KEN) 31:06

4 El Hassan El Abbassi (BRN) 31:14

5 Goitom Kifle (ERI) 31:36

6 Ayad Lamdassem (ESP) 31:43

7 Yemanem Crippa (ITA) 31:43

8 Sergio Sánchez (ESP) 31:57

9 Adel Mechaal (ESP) 32:03

10 Ayoub Mokhtar (ESP) 32:06

Timothy Toroitich convincingly won the 35th Cross Internacional de la Constitución in Madrid, Spain, the second leg of 2016-17 IAAF Cross Country Permit series, on Sunday.

He warned that he was ready to challenge for a top title at next year's IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Kampala 2017.

Toroitich, who had three podium finishes in the event's past editions, was on form as he raced to a nine-second men's 10km event title in a tactfully run race.

Toroitich went into the race positive that he would retain the title and managed to lead the early   breakaway group of five, as they approached the second kilometer with Eritreans Aron and Goitom Kifle, Bahrain's El Hassan El Abbassi and Kenyan Jairus Birech.

He was aware that whoever controlled the race had the advantage of winning it and did not relax, controlling it early, but with Aron Kifle not giving him an opportunity to build a big gap in the five 2.3km lap race.

He however maintained the lead and as they approached the last lap, building an eight-second advantage as the skies opened to a downpour and as his rhythm increased the pace, Kifle failed to maintain the pace and dropped off.

The last lap, which offered a mixture of rain and mud, gave the competitors a challenge, with Toroitich having an advantage that he was leading, paddling through to come home in 30 minutes 52 seconds, beating Kifle by nine seconds and Birech taking the last podium finish 14 seconds behind.

"I had already competed here several times in the past and knew the circuit was tough but this year was even more difficult and there was a lot of mud and I sometimes found it difficult to remain upright," said Toroitich after the race.

He said this was his last race as he prepares to return home to prepare for the Ugandan trials for the IAAF World Cross Country Championships Kampala 2017 that are due January 14 at Kololo Independence Grounds.

"That's an important campaign for me as the World Cross Country Championships will take place in my country, although it's still early days to know what kind of performance I can expect there."