Korir and Chekwemoi Win Valsugana Cross Country Races in Levico Terme

November 8, 2026 Dr. Michael Lee – Health Editor Health

African Victories Open Valsugana Cross Season in Levico Terme

African runners dominated the 15th Cross della Valsugana on November 8, 2026, where Kenyan Felix Kiptarus Korir and Ugandan Felister Chekwemoi claimed the opening victories of the new cross-country running season in Levico Terme, Trento, according to reports from fidal.it.

The Tech TL;DR:

  • Elite Openings: Felix Kiptarus Korir secured victory in the men’s 7.5km event with a time of 21:44, while Felister Chekwemoi won the women’s race in 25:46.
  • Cross-Border Contenders: Swedish runner Emil Millan de la Oliva finished second in the men’s race at 21:50, closely followed by Bahrain’s Hassan Chani at 22:15, per fidal.it.
  • Italian Standouts: Francesco Alliegro placed fourth for the men at 22:32, and Sara Gandolfi finished second in the women’s division at 25:54, according to fidal.it.

Felix Kiptarus Korir Wins the 7.5-Kilometer Race

Felix Kiptarus Korir established an early pace on the Trentino course to finish the 7.5-kilometer layout in 21:44. Fidal.it reported that Emil Millan de la Oliva crossed second in 21:50, while Hassan Chani took third in 22:15.

Francesco Alliegro finished fourth representing Atletica Libertas Unicusano Livorno with a time of 22:32, according to fidal.it. The race also saw notable DNFs, with Enrico Vecchi of Atletica Casone Noceto and Giuseppe Gerratana of Aeronautica failing to complete the course, per fidal.it records.

# Men's Valsugana Podiums (7.5 km)
1. Felix Kiptarus Korir (Kenya)     - 21:44
2. Emil Millan de la Oliva (Sweden) - 21:50
3. Hassan Chani (Bahrain)           - 22:15
4. Francesco Alliegro (Italy)       - 22:32

Women’s Podium Dynamics in Trentino

Felister Chekwemoi, who earned an under-20 bronze medal at the previous season’s mountain running world championships, claimed the women’s title in 25:46, fidal.it reported. Sara Gandolfi of Pro Sesto Atletica Cernusco secured second place in 25:54, while Nicole Reina of Caivano Runners took third in 26:01, according to fidal.it.

The competition took place at the event dedicated to the memory of Mauro Andreatta, who founded and presided over Gs Valsugana Trentino until his passing four years ago, fidal.it stated.

Under-23 and Junior Category Results

Valeria Minati of Us Quercia Dao Conad won the women’s under-23 six-kilometer race in 19:55, fidal.it noted. She led ahead of national category champion Lucia Arnoldo of Atletica Dolomiti Belluno at 20:10 and Carolina Fraquelli of Atletica Virtus Lucca at 20:30. In the men’s under-23 division, Ireland’s Lughaidh Mallon took first place in 18:10, according to fidal.it.

For the under-20 competitors over 4.5 kilometers, Thomas Colombo of Varese Atletica won in 13:35 against Daniel Jeremy Allen and Riccardo Serafini, who both finished in 13:45, fidal.it reported. Mimosa Miari Fulcis won the junior women’s race in 16:14, outpacing Martina Ghisalberti at 16:29 and Valentina Deserti at 16:59, fidal.it added.

Spanish Gold Circuit Context at Itálica

Luca Alfieri finished thirteenth at the 44th Cross de Itálica in Santiponce near Seville, Spain, running 28:48 over 9.550 kilometers in a World Athletics Cross Country Tour Gold event, fidal.it reported. The Atletica Casone Noceto runner stayed with the lead pack for nearly half the race to finish as the fifth European, while Nicolò Bedini placed 21st in 29:13, according to fidal.it.

Burundi-born Rodrigue Kwizera won the race for the second year in 27:37, fidal.it stated. In the women’s division of the Spanish event, Ethiopia’s Likina Amebaw won in 30:41, while Italian runner Federica Zanne stopped on the final lap due to diaphragm discomfort after running 18th, fidal.it noted.

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