Bahrain’s Olympic 3000m steeplechase champion Winfred Yavi began her 2026 campaign in dominant fashion, cruising to victory at the Cross Internacional de Italica in Seville, Spain. The commanding performance served as a clear statement of intent from Yavi, who is determined to reclaim her spot at the top after a challenging 2025 season.
Yavi, who finished as silver medallist at the 2025 World Championships, produced a performance that left no doubt about her form and fitness. Her victory comes as a warning to rising stars like Faith Cherotich, who dethroned her in Tokyo last year. Yavi’s explosive display suggested that she is back to her best and ready to challenge for major titles in the year ahead.
The women’s 9.2km race featured a strong field, with Kazakhstan’s Daisy Jepkemei, Ethiopia’s Likina Amebaw, and Kenya’s Celestine Jepkosgei Biwott forming the early leading group alongside Yavi. The quartet broke away from the chasers, maintaining a fast tempo as the race unfolded. By the halfway mark, Biwott had lost touch, leaving Yavi, Jepkemei, and Amebaw to battle for the podium spots.
The decisive moment came during the third lap when Yavi surged to the front, quickly dropping Jepkemei and establishing control over the race. Her endurance and tactical brilliance were on full display as she widened the gap, running the final lap in an impressive 6:58 to secure an unchallenged victory.
Behind her, the battle for second place intensified as Jepkemei narrowly edged Amebaw by a single second to take silver, clocking 30:36 to Amebaw’s 30:37. Biwott followed in fourth place, with Spain’s Maria Forero completing the top five.
In the men’s race, Burundi’s Rodrigue Kwizera showcased his tactical mastery to overcome a strong Kenyan challenge, finishing ahead of Andrew Alamisi and Dennis Kipkoech. Kwizera timed his final surge perfectly, accelerating with 500 meters to go and holding off his pursuers to claim the title.
With this commanding start to her 2026 season, Winfred Yavi has sent a powerful message to her rivals: she is back, stronger, and ready to dominate once again.
