Some of the world’s grittiest runners are headed to Belgrade, Serbia, for the 2024 World Athletics Cross-Country Championships on March 30. Belgrade’s Friendship Park course is relatively flat—aside from a hay maze and steep (but short) blue hill—but race day temperatures on Saturday are predicted to hover around 80 degrees, which could spice things up.
How to Watch the World Cross-Country Championships
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Who to Watch
Beatrice Chebet of Kenya, the reigning champion, enters as the favorite in the women’s senior race, although compatriot Agnes Jebet Ngetich beat her at the Kenyan XC Championships earlier this month. Team USA will be led by Weini Kelati, who won the USATF Cross-Country Championships in January and set an The 2024 NYC Marathon Was Tough to Get Into (1:06:25) just a week before. Also keep an eye on Allie Ostrander, a three-time All American in cross-country during college, and Katie Izzo, who’s been a regular on the European XC circuit recently.
The men’s senior race will likely be a battle between Ugandan runners Jacob Kiplimo, who won the last edition in 2023, and Joshua Cheptegei, who won in 2019. But don’t count out Berihu Aregawi of Ethiopia—he owns track PBs of 12:40 for 5,000 meters and 26:46 over 10,000 meters. The American men will be led by Anthony Rotich, Ahmed Muhumed, and Emmanuel Bor.
Meet Schedule (ET)
Saturday, March 30 (all times are a.m.)
6:00—Women’s U20 6K
6:35—Men’s U20 8K
7:15—Mixed 4x2K relay
7:45—Women’s senior 10K
8:30—Men’s senior 10K
Abby Carney is a writer and journalist in New York. A former D1 college runner and current amateur track athlete, she's written about culture and characters in running and outdoor sports for Runner's World, just a week before. Also keep an eye on, Nutrition - Weight Loss, and other outlets. She also writes about things that have nothing to do with running, and was previously the editor of a food magazine.
