Newly wed Leonard Kipkemoi Bett won the Cinque Mulini cross country title, the seventh leg of World Athletics Cross Country permit held on Sunday in Italy.
As former world junior champion Gloria Kite was second in women category in 17:33 in the race won by Bahrain’s Wilfred Mutile in 17:22. Jackline Cherono was third in 17:34 while Mercy Cherono was fourth in 17:47.
Bett clocked 32:08 to finish ahead of Ethiopia’s Tadese Worku coming a close second in 32:09. Another Kenyan Jackson Muema completed the podium in 32:10
Bett won the 2017 world U-18 steeplechase winner and followed it up with silver at the following year’s World U20 Championships. Last year, he finished fourth in the U- 20 race at the World Cross Country Championships and ninth in the steeplechase final at the World Championships in Doha.
Bett plans to compete at the African Cross Country Championships in preparation for the Olympic season.