# 2018 African Cross Country Championships

The 2018 African Cross Country Championships was the fifth edition of the international cross country running competition for African athletes organised by the Confederation of African Athletics. It was held on 17 March in Chlef, Algeria – the first time a North African nation had hosted the event since its re-launch in 2011. There were five races on the program: 10 km for senior men, 10 km for senior women, 8 km for junior men, 6 km for junior women, and an 8 km mixed relay.
Kenya again dominated the podium at the competition, taking the top two spots in the senior men's, senior women's, and junior men's races, as well as runner-up in the mixed relay. The 21-year-old Alfred Barkach had the first major win of his career in the senior men's race and 18-year-old Celliphine Chespol took the women's title, adding senior international honours to her world steeplechase titles at under-18 and under-20 level. Rhonex Kipruto won the men's junior title and went on to become 10,000 metres World U20 Champion later that year. Girmawit Gebrzihair claimed Ethiopia's sole individual title in the junior women's race, though her physical appearance raised questions about her eligibility for the under-18 category.

## Medallists

| Event | Gold | Gold | Silver | Silver | Bronze | Bronze |
| Senior men's 10 km | Alfred Barkach (KEN) | 30:47 | Julius Kogo (KEN) | 30:47 | Thomas Ayeko (UGA) | 30:47 |
| Senior women's 10 km | Celliphine Chespol (KEN) | 35:10 | Margaret Chelimo Kipkemboi (KEN) | 35:13 | Yeshi Kalayu Chekole (ETH) | 35:26 |
| Mixed relay | Ethiopia Taresa Tolosa Netsanet Desta Mogos Tuemay Besu Sado | 23:51 | Kenya Charles Simotwo Emily Chebet Bethwel Birgen Winfred Mbithe | 24:15 | Morocco Brahim Kaazouzi Kawtar Farkoussi Younès Essalhi Fadwa Sidi Madane | 25:07 |
| Junior men 8 km | Rhonex Kipruto (KEN) | 25:01 | Stanley Mburu (KEN) | 25:06 | Solomon Berihu (ETH) | 25:08 |
| Junior women 6 km | Girmawit Gebrzihair (ETH) | 20:40 | Tsigie Gebreselama (ETH) | 20:54 | Hellen Ekalale (KEN) | 20:55 |

## Results
### Senior men

| Place | Athlete | Country | Time |
| | Alfred Barkach | Kenya | 30:47 |
| | Julius Kogo | Kenya | 30:47 |
| | Thomas Ayeko | Uganda | 30:47 |
| 4 | Enyew Mekonnen Alem | Ethiopia | 31:01 |
| 5 | Emmanuel Bor | Kenya | 31:14 |
| 6 | Philip Kipyeko | Uganda | 31:19 |
| 7 | John Chepkwony | Kenya | 31:22 |
| 8 | Filmon Ande | Eritrea | 31:23 |
| 9 | Mande Bushendich | Uganda | 31:26 |
| 10 | Tesfay Berhe Berhane | Eritrea | 31:28 |
| 11 | Kefasiteni Chitsala | Malawi | 31:35 |
| 12 | Nelson Wakana | Uganda | 31:38 |
| 13 | Melkashaw Eshete Kassa | Ethiopia | 31:43 |
| 14 | Samsom Amare | Eritrea | 31:46 |
| 15 | Ali Grine | Algeria | 31:47 |
| 16 | Mohamed Merbouhi | Algeria | 31:49 |
| 17 | David Manja | South Africa | 31:56 |
| 18 | Brhane Amanuel | Eritrea | 32:00 |
| 19 | Christian Manga | Senegal | 32:13 |
| 20 | Abe Gashaun Tilahun | South Africa | 32:15 |

### Senior women

| Place | Athlete | Country | Time |
| | Celliphine Chespol | Kenya | 35:10 |
| | Margaret Chelimo Kipkemboi | Kenya | 35:13 |
| | Yeshi Kalayy Chekole | Ethiopia | 35:26 |
| 4 | Stacey Chepkemboi Ndiwa | Kenya | 35:27 |
| 5 | Stella Chesang | Uganda | 35:30 |
| 6 | Sandra Chebet | Kenya | 35:47 |
| 7 | Mercyline Chelangat | Uganda | 35:53 |
| 8 | Enatnesh Alamrew Tirusew | Ethiopia | 35:57 |
| 9 | Rosemary Njeri | Kenya | 36:01 |
| 10 | Gate Alemayehu Teklemichael | Ethiopia | 36:08 |
| 11 | Rahma Tusa Chota | Ethiopia | 36:27 |
| 12 | Perine Nengampi | Kenya | 36:38 |
| 13 | Janat Chemusto | Uganda | 36:52 |
| 14 | Linet Chebet | Uganda | 36:59 |
| 15 | Shasho Insermu Mijana | Ethiopia | 37:21 |
| 16 | Kesa Molotsane | South Africa | 37:38 |
| 17 | Zinash Estifo Banetirga | Ethiopia | 37:46 |
| 18 | Rima Chenah | Algeria | 38:34 |
| 19 | Riham Senani | Algeria | 38:49 |
| 20 | Glenrose Xaba | South Africa | 39:04 |

### Junior men

| Place | Athlete | Country | Time |
| | Rhonex Kipruto | Kenya | 25:01 |
| | Stanley Mburu | Kenya | 25:06 |
| | Solomon Berihu Weldeselassie | Ethiopia | 25:08 |
| 4 | Berehanu Wendim Tsegu | Ethiopia | 25:11 |
| 5 | Milkesa Mengesha Tolosa | Ethiopia | 25:13 |
| 6 | Vincent Kipkemoi Ngetich | Kenya | 25:14 |
| 7 | Edwin Kiplagat Bett | Kenya | 25:17 |
| 8 | Edward Zakayo | Kenya | 25:20 |
| 9 | Dominic Kiptum Rotich | Kenya | 25:31 |
| 10 | Nibret Melak Bogale | Ethiopia | 25:34 |

### Junior women

| Place | Athlete | Country | Time |
| | Girmawit Gebrzihair | Ethiopia | 19:44 |
| | Tsigie Gebreselama | Ethiopia | 19:58 |
| | Hellen Ekalale | Kenya | 19:59 |
| 4 | Agnes Jebet Ngetich | Kenya | 20:06 |
| 5 | Roselidah Jepketer | Kenya | 20:08 |
| 6 | Mirriam Cherop | Kenya | 21:06 |
| 7 | Mizan Alem Adane | Ethiopia | 21:08 |
| 8 | Edinah Jebitok | Kenya | 21:21 |
| 9 | Ejegayehu Taye Haylu | Ethiopia | 21:23 |
| 10 | Beatrice Chebet | Kenya | 21:32 |

### Mixed relay

| Place | Country | Athlete | Time |
| | Ethiopia | Taresa Tolosa, Netsanet Desta, Mogos Tuemay, Besu Sado | 23:51 |
| | Kenya | Charles Simotwo, Emily Chebet, Bethwel Birgen, Winfred Mbithe | 24:15 |
| | Morocco | Brahim Kaazouzi, Kawtar Farkoussi, Younès Essalhi, Fadwa Sidi Madane | 25:07 |
| 4. | Algeria | Imad Touil, Abir Refas, Takieddine Heideli, Nabila Sifi | 25:51 |