Merima Denboba had to settle for second place at Stormont
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Etalemahu Kidane won a thrilling finish in Saturday's Reebok international cross-country meeting in Belfast.
Kidane's acceleration edged her ahead of former Ethiopian team-mate Merima Denboba to win the 5.6k race in 20 minutes 26 seconds.
Denboba, now an Italian citizen, dead-heated with Meselech Melkamu for second, while Jolene Byrne of Ireland ran well to take fifth place.
America's Dathan Ritzenhein scored a surprise win in the men's 9k race.
The 22-year-old, third in the 2001 World Championships junior cross countryrace in Dublin, won in a time of 29 minutes 24 seconds.
His inspirational performance saw him scorch to a 10-second success ahead of Ernest Meil, who just held off his Kenyan team-mate Barnabas Kosgei.
Northern Ireland team member Gary Murphy ran an excellent race to finish top Irishman in ninth with those behind him including Britain's Rob Whalley, who was 10th.