Belgrade Cross Country Championships Set Stage for Epic Rematch as Elite Runners Battle for Gold

In the recent World Athletics Cross Country Championships held in Bathurst, Australia, Kiplimo emerged as the winner while Cheptegei secured both individual and team bronze medals. This sets up an exciting rematch in Belgrade, where Joshua will once again compete against Kiplimo, as well as 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, with Cheptegei already showcasing impressive form with a fast 10km run in Spain. He remains a strong contender for a medal in Belgrade and is eager to add to his collection of individual honors before the Paris Olympics.

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 women’s U20 race will kick off 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.