Beyenu Degefa held off compatriot Kalkidan Fentie to triumph in the women's race ©Getty Images

Ethiopia’s Selemon Barega and Beyenu Degefa won the respective men’s and women’s races as the penultimate leg of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Cross Country Permit took place in San Vittore Olona in Italy today.

Barega, the world under-20 champion in the 5,000 metres, came into the event as one of the favourites for victory and prevailed in a time of 33 min 43sec.

Morocco’s Soufiane El Bakkali, who finished fourth in the 3,000m steeplechase at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro last year, was 13 seconds behind in the runners-up spot.

A further second back was Uganda’s Fred Musobo in third.

Ethiopia’s Selemon Barega won the men's race ©IAAF
Ethiopia’s Selemon Barega won the men's race ©IAAF

The women's race saw Degefa, the 3,000m gold medallist at the 2016 World Under-20 Championships, hold off compatriot Kalkidan Fentie to triumph in 18:23.

It marked the first time the two athletes have gone head to head, with Degefa considered the slight favourite going into the event following two impressive cross-country wins in France towards the end of last year.

Fentie, who claimed the world under-20 5,000m title last year, was four seconds slower. 

Bahrain’s Edao Febitu Bontu rounded out the podium after finishing 25 seconds back.