Itálica International Cross Country 2026: Record Entry and New Course

The Itálica International Cross Country 2026 holds its international races this Sunday in Santiponce (Seville), with a record 5,057 athletes entered across all categories for its 44th edition. Rodrigue Kwizera, Thierry Ndikumwenayo, Berihu Aregawi and Likina Amebaw are among the entrants.

The competition takes place on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 November, with mass-participation races, youth events and the international races. The course at the Itálica Archaeological Site has been modified, with more wooded sections and softer ground.

Record entry and 50 relay teams

The long mixed night race filled its 1,000 places in just one day, according to Javier Fernández, president of Seville Provincial Council. Sunday’s short men’s mass-participation race also reached its limit of 1,000 athletes, while the youngest children’s category filled all its places.

Applications for the short women’s mass-participation race doubled compared with the previous edition, reaching 623 runners. There are 50 teams entered in the mixed relays, more than the quota set for the Spanish Championships itself.

Race times

The second mixed night cross-country race was scheduled for Saturday afternoon, starting at 18:30 over a 7,180-metre course. On Sunday, the youth categories, mass-participation races and two international races take place between 9:00 and 15:00.

The international races take place on Sunday 8 November. The women’s race is scheduled for 11:40 and the men’s for 12:25. The short mass-participation cross-country races cover 4,810 metres and the main races 9,550 metres.

A more wooded course beside the Amphitheatre

The new course incorporates softer ground in place of the usual compacted sand and offers better views of the Roman Amphitheatre. According to race director Antonio Ruiz, the course ranges in elevation from 23 to 33 metres, with gradients between -5.9% and 8.5%.

The race starts with an 80-metre straight over uneven ground, followed by a narrowing at 0.2 km. The lake section has a clay surface and leads to a stretch of dense vegetation. At 1 km, there is a sharp downhill turn overlooking the Amphitheatre.

After a slippery turn and a wooded section, the course climbs to the wall beside the Major Baths. At 1.8 km, it passes over the original Roman road after crossing a temporary bridge; a section of low woodland precedes the finishing straight.

Kwizera seeks third title against Ndikumwenayo and Aregawi

Kwizera, winner in 2021 and 2025, is aiming for his third victory at Itálica, a feat only Kenenisa Bekele has achieved. The 27-year-old arrives having set national records of 27:15 for 10 kilometres and 58:03 for the half marathon following his performance in Valencia.

Ndikumwenayo has also won twice in Santiponce, in 2022 and 2024. The European cross-country champion, who won the title last December in Lagoa, completed the Valencia Half Marathon in 58:09.

Aregawi, a 25-year-old Ethiopian, returns after finishing third in 2024. He is a three-time world cross-country silver medallist and Olympic 10,000-metre silver medallist. He finished second at the World Championships in Tallahassee in January and then won the Elgoibar Cross Country.

The international field includes 19-year-old Frankline Kibet, world under-20 cross-country and 5,000-metre champion, as well as Denis Kipkemoi, Charles Kiboino, Andrew Alamisi, Samuel Cherop, Dismas Yeko, Fasika Ayele, Wegene Adisu and Damitew Kebede.

The Spanish entrants include Aaron Las Heras, steeplechase record holder Fernando Carro, national champion Dani Arce, Nacho Fontes, Nassim Hassaous, Zakariya Boufaljat, Jaime Migallón and Brahim El Ouzardi.

Amebaw starts as favourite in the women’s race

Ethiopia’s Likina Amebaw arrives as the favourite. Seville Provincial Council also names Charity Cherop among the favourites.

Their rivals include Maurine Chebor and Maria Forero, from Huelva, the reigning European under-23 champion over 5,000 metres and in cross-country. Carolina Robles, Marta Serrano, Carla Gallardo, Ángela Viciosa and Alice Finot, the European 3,000-metre steeplechase record holder, will also compete.

A Gold event in Santiponce

Organised by Seville Provincial Council, the Cross Internacional de Itálica is a Gold event on the World Athletics circuit. It is the third Gold event on the 2026-2027 circuit.

The official headquarters and technical office are at the Hotel Barceló Sevilla Renacimiento. Race numbers can be collected at the Race Fair, which includes health and community activities and an exhibition area covering the Cross’s four-decade history.