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BAHRAIN'S Maryam Yusuf Jamal left her rivals trailing in her dust as she raced to victory in this year's 8km senior women's race of the 10th Asian Cross Country Championships.
The event was part of a four-race regional championship taking place at the Bahrain Equestrian and Horse Racing Club in Sakhir on Sunday which consisted of senior and junior races. Eighteen teams took part comprising of 174 athletes.
As Maryam held the golden trophy up high, she said: "I am very proud to represent Bahrain and am extremely happy with my win."
The Ethiopian-born 24-year-old had previously won the senior women's race in 2007 in Amman and is building up her form.
Her husband and coach Tareq Sabt, 31, told GulfWeekly: "Maryam has won more than 10 championships already and everytime she wins I am overjoyed."
Maryam and Tareq currently live and train in Switzerland and visit Bahrain four to five times a year and during events.
Maryam's next challenge is likely to be at the world's biggest winter outdoor athletics event which will be held in Jordan when the kingdom hosts the 37th IAAF World Cross Country Championships on March 28.
Bahrain will be hoping to shine in this event after a tremendous showing on home soil. The hosts bagged five gold medals and five silver medals in the individual and team categories in the Asian Cross Country Championships.
In the 8km junior men's race, adopted Bahrainis Alemu Bekele Gebre and Edwin Chebii Kimurer took first and second place, while Japan's Syota Hattori came out third.
In the 5.7km junior women's race, adopted Bahrainis Shitaye Eshete Habtegebrel and Tejitu Daba Chalchissa took the first two spots and Japan's Aki Odagiri took third.
The 8km senior women's race is where Maryam took first place with her adopted Bahraini team-mate Mimi Belete taking second. Japan's Aya Nagata came out third.
For the 11.85km senior men's race, it was Qatar's turn to shine as Ahmad Hassan Abdullah, Essa Ismail Rahed and Felix Kikwai Kibore took all three spots.
Bahrain Athletics Association technical manager, Lounes Madene, said: "This is the first time we have organised a competition of this magnitude and everything seems to have gone brilliantly. Bahrain did beautifully - we have a strong team this year."
Among the spectators was Maryam's Olympic teammate Ruqaya Al Ghasra. The Bahraini sprinter told GulfWeekly: "I like to support my fellow athletes," as she busily signed autographs for a contingent of fans from the Iranian women's squad.
