The upcoming World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Belgrade, Serbia, promises to be an exciting event with top runners from around the world. In the senior men’s race, Joshua will compete against defending champion Kiplimo and other top names such as Berihu Aregawi of Ethiopia and Sabastian Sawe of Kenya.
Kiplimo emerged as the winner at the most recent World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Bathurst, Australia, with Cheptegei securing both individual and team bronze medals. This sets the stage for a thrilling rematch in Belgrade.
Cheptegei has already shown impressive form with a fast 10km run in Spain and remains a strong contender for a medal in Belgrade. He is eager to add to his collection of individual honors before the Paris Olympics.
The course in Belgrade offers a flatter terrain compared to previous World Cross events, making it more accessible for athletes and spectators alike. Cheptegei has already demonstrated his prowess on this type of terrain with his impressive performance in Spain.
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