“I had a lot of fun,” Downsteiner said after his win. “I think this is a good start to the cross-country season,” added the extraordinary runner from Eritrea. He recently won the World Mountain Running Association (WMRA) Nations Cup in Chihuahua, Italy, and the thrilling marathon at the legendary Rhunsteig Run in Thuringia. Abraham started for the German Mountain Running Team for the first time in the Nations Cup.

He dominated six laps from the start on Olympiaburg’s select 1100m lap, which the spectators could easily handle. First, Job Gebisso (TG Victoria Augsburg), who eventually finished third, was able to follow him in the introductory lap without being able to hold on to the high speed of the downstream. In the final lap, Jacob Semanik (SSK Vitkovis), who had been third until then, overtook Gebiso. But in the end, Semenik was 45 seconds behind Abraham, who crossed the finish line 21:05 minutes later. The women’s winner was Daniela Cleiser of the 70.3 Triathlon World Champion TSV Grunwald.

Philemon Abraham has now arrived in Pforzheim for a cross-country run on the last weekend of November. The 8.8 km race on November 28 is considered a qualifier for the European Championships on December 12 in Dublin (Ireland). To qualify for the EM, one of the top three German runners is required. “That’s obviously my goal,” Philim Abraham said confidently – as his recent successes stand out, he has every reason to do so.

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