The upcoming World Cross Country Championships in Belgrade, Serbia, promises to be a thrilling event with some of the world’s top athletes set to compete. Kiplimo emerged as the winner at the last World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Bathurst, Australia and will be back again to defend his title.
Cheptegei, who secured both individual and team bronze medals in Bathurst, is also returning to Belgrade and will be looking to add another medal to his collection. He has been in impressive form recently, posting a fast 10km run in Spain. Joshua is also set to compete against Kiplimo and other top names in the sport such as Berihu Aregawi of Ethiopia and Sabastian Sawe of Kenya.
The course in Belgrade offers a much flatter terrain compared to previous World Cross events, making it an ideal place for athletes to showcase their speed and endurance. The race will take place at Friendship Park in Belgrade, featuring a loop of 1887m and start and finish straights of 270m and 320m respectively. The course includes unique features such as arch bridges, a hay maze, and traditional cross country hurdles, with music stations marking the turning points on the loop.
The event is scheduled to start with the women’s U20 race at 11am (CET), followed by the senior men’s race at 1.30pm. Viewers around the world can catch the action via livestream on the World Athletics YouTube channel or World Athletics Inside Track, with some local broadcasters also providing coverage. Specific start times for different regions include 1pm in Kenya, Ethiopia, and Uganda; 6am in New York; 3am in Los Angeles; 7pm in Tokyo; and 9pm in Sydney.
Overall, this event promises to be an exciting rematch between some of the world’s best cross country runners. With challenging course features and fierce competition from top names like Kiplimo and Cheptegei among others
