Parasappa Hajilol, Sonika claim cross country titles

Tribune News Service
Dera Bassi, February 21

Parasappa Madevappa Hajilol of Karnataka and Haryana athlete Sonika won the men and women’s 10km races in the 55th National Cross Country Championships at the ATF Golf Meadows in Dera Bassi.

The 25-year-old, Parasappa Hajilol, who hails from Bijapur and trains in Dharwad, surprised not only the more seasoned Vikram Bangriya (Madhya Pradesh) and Maharashtra steeplechaser Adesh Yadav but also a host of experienced runners like Abhishek Pal (Railways) and AB Belliappa, Darshan Singh, Hari Singh and defending champion Anish Thapa Magar (Services).

In the men’s race, 224 runners were at the start but Parasappa Hajilol’s time of 31 minutes 13.21 seconds was less than a minute slower than Anish Thapa Magar’s 30:31.00 in the previous edition in Warangal in January 2020.

173 women lined up for the start of their race. Sonika, a 21-year-old from Rohtak, and Maharashtra runners Komal Jagdale and Nikita Raut stunned defending champion Kavita Yadav and last year’s runner-up Varsha Devi (Railways) into fourth and fifth places, respectively.

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