1. Sylvain Rukundo (Police) 37:54:51

2. Cyriaque Ndayikengurikiye (Kamonyi) 38:13:56

3. Jean Baptista Simuceka (APR) 39:00:87

4. Gervais Hakizimana (APR) 39:00:87

5. Felix Ntirenganya (Police) 39:08:99

6. Godfrey Rutayisire (APR) 39:30:00

7. Rashid Safari (APR) 39:33:00

8. Alex Gakwaya (Police) 39:41:07

1. Adeline Musabyeyezu (Kamonyi) 27:14:32

2. Claudette Mukasakindi (APR) 27:32:40

3. Pelagie Musengimana (Kamonyi) 27:46:42

4. Genesis Nyirahabimana (NAS) 28:17:40

5. Epiphanie Nyirabarame (Kamonyi) 28:21:16

6. Esperance Mukarugwiza (Kamonyi) 28:47:89

7. Clementine Nyiraguhirwa (APR) 29:04:67

8. Jean D’Arc Mukakigeri (NAS) 29:42:08

Police Athletics Club athlete Sylvain Rukundo won this year’s national cross country championship at Kigali Golf Club, Nyarutarama yesterday.

Rukundo clocked 37 minutes 54 seconds to win the 12km-national event which attracted many participants from different athletics clubs in the country.

Cyriaque Ndayikengurikiye from Kamonyi athletics club came second while APR’s Jean Baptista Simuceka finished third respectively.

In the female category, 15-year old Adeline Musabyeyezu from Kamonyi outpaced leading champions, Claudette Mukasakindi and Pelagie Musengimana to finish first in the 8km field race.

The national event was held to select possible athletes who compose the national team to start preparations for the36th edition of the IAAF World Cross Country Championship due on March 30 in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Only 12 slots will be up for grabs after a two-week residential training for the first eight winners in male and female categories.

The male team will be made up of seven boys while female team is set to be consisted of five girls.

Meanwhile, the country’s long distance athlete Dieudonne Disi pulled out of the event after seeking permission from the local athletics federation. Disi is preparing for a half marathon race due Dubai on February 25.

Disi finished 22nd in last year’s World Cross Country championship held in the Kenyan coastal city of Mombasa. His main rivals Sylvain Rukundo came on 38th position, Gervais Nizeyimana was 53rd, Jean Baptista Simuc9eka was 58th, and Gervais Hakizimana was 77th and Godfrey Rutayisire finishing 109 respectively.

In the female category, Angelline Nyiransabimana finished 31st behind Holland’s Kenyan-born Lornah Kiplagat who won the event. Her main rivals Epiphanie Nyirabarame finished 52nd with Felicite Uwigeneye on 56th position, Claudette Mukasakindi on 59th, Genessi Nyirahabimana on 67th and Lamberte Nyabamikazi finished 77th.

Ends