On January 10, the World Cross Country Championships will be held in Tallahassee, Florida. Famous athletes from around the world will fight fiercely. Let’s take a look at what are the expectations from this year’s Championships and who are the main contenders for victory.
History and format
The World Cross Country Championships is one of the most authoritative starts in the world of cross-country athletics. It has been held by the international organization World Athletics (formerly IAAF) since 1971. Until 2011, competitions were held every year, and now every two years.
The format involves the participation of national teams, which field up to 6 athletes in each category. The program includes individual races among women, men, juniors, juniors, as well as a mixed relay. In addition to the individual fight for medals, there is also a team competition – according to the sum of the four best results from each country.
Competitions are held on rough terrain. The track is usually laid in a circle about 2 km long, with ascents, descents and turns. The distance is 10 km for adults, 8 km for juniors, 6 km for juniors.
Expectations from WXC Tallahassee 26
The World Cross Country Championships return to the United States for the first time since 1992.
The competition will take place at the Appalachian Regional Park in Tallahassee. Athletes will try their hand at a track with mud, water, sand, hills and the signature element of a roller coaster. The route will contain four technically difficult sections, which participants will overcome five times.
Immediately after the elite races, fans will be able to walk or run along the same route.
This year, 485 athletes from 52 countries will take part in the championship: 246 adults (101 women and 145 men) and 163 juniors (76 girls and 87 boys). 15 teams will take part in the mixed relay.
Маршрут у Таллахассі. Зображення з WorldAthletics.org
Male category
The men’s race promises to be a real spectacle. The main star of the cross country competition is Jacob Kiplimo. This two-time reigning world cross country champion has a chance to score a hat-trick and make history.
His main competitor is Berihu Aregawa, the Olympic silver medalist in the 10,000 m.
Other strong athletes will join the fight for high positions: Jimmy Gressier, the reigning world champion in the 10 km, and Thierry Ndikumwenayo, European cross country champion with the Spanish national team. Daniel Ebenyo, silver medalist at the World Half Marathon Championships and sixth at the 2023 World Cross Country Championships, has a chance of winning.
Джейкоб Кіплімо встановив новий світовий рекорд з бігу в півмарафоні у Барселоні. Зображення з suspilne.media
Women’s category
The women’s race is no less intriguing. The list of contenders for victory is headed by Agnes Ngetich, the world record holder in the 10 km race and the bronze medalist of the 2023 World Cross Country Championships.
Among her main competitors are Uganda’s Sarah Chelangat, who finished fifth in Belgrade two years ago, and Joy Cheptojek, seventh in the final of the 10 km World Championships in Tokyo.
The United States team is led by Wayne Kelati, winner of the 2024 Olympic Selection.
The list of participants also includes Megan Keith, silver medalist of the European Cross Country Championships, and the representative of Spain Maria Forero, European cross country champion in the U23 category.
In addition, this year, for the first time, the adult national team of Ethiopia includes young, but already titled athletes: Senayet Getachev, the 2023 U20 cross country champion, and Asayech Aychev, the silver medalist in the same category in 2024. So the fight promises to be fierce.
Агнес Нгетіч не фінішувала на Чемпіонаті світу з легкої атлетики 2025. Зображення з mozzartsport.co.ke
Category U20
Junior races traditionally remain the least predictable part of the program.
In the men’s category, attention is focused on Andrew Alamisi, the U20 world champion at a distance of 5000 m. He can bring Kenya a third title in a row. The contenders also include Belgian Willem Renders, European U20 champion, and Frenchman Alois Abraham, bronze medalist in this category.
In the women’s race, the key figure is the reigning champion Marta Alemayo. She won in Belgrade at the age of 15 and now has a chance to become the fourth world champion in junior cross-country.
Mixed Relay
Among the participants of the mixed relay, we see familiar names again. The Kenyan team is led by the bronze medalist of the World Championships in the 1500 meters Reynold Cheruiot and Pyuriti Chepkirui. Two years ago, they helped the team win gold in Belgrade. So their experience and coherence can be a decisive factor in the fight for medals.
Kenya will compete with the Ethiopian team. Despite organizational difficulties, they announced a strong squad: Hirut Meshesha, bronze medalist of the 2022 World Cross Country Championships and Vegene Adisu, silver medalist of the World Cross Country Championships in the U20 category in 2021.
Australia also claims high positions. The team includes Olympic medalist Jessica Hull and Commonwealth Games champion in the 1500 m Oliver Hoare. In Bathurst 2023, the Australians won bronze.
This year’s Tallahassee Championships have gathered promises to be an arena for new records and unexpected discoveries. We will closely monitor the progress and will share the results soon. Stay tuned!
