Africa confirmed its supremacy during the world cross-country championships held on March 30, 2024 in Belgrade (Serbia). All five titles at stake were won by Africans.
Ugandan Jacob Kiplimo and Kenyan Beatrice Chebet retained their titles in the “AS” races.
They were ten to be dreaming of the title. At the bell, Jacob Kiplimo, the defending champion, accelerated the pace and stretched the leading group to offer himself a second world title in 28:09, the 3rd in a row for his country, after that of Joshua Cheptegei in 2019. The Ethiopian Berihu Aregawi took 2nd place in 28:12, while Kenyan Benson Kiplangat was 3rd in 28:14.
We were expecting the dual between Beatrice Chebet, 5 km world record holder and reigning world champion, and her compatriot Agnes Jebet Ngetich in the Ladies. This race indeed quickly turned into a Kenyan championship. And after ten minutes of running, only ten of them were at the front. With their frantic pace, after mid-way, all the non-Kenyans were left behind. Chebet was crowned in 31:05; her compatriots Beatrice Kasait Rengeruk and Margaret Chelimo Kipkemboi finished in 2nd and 3rd place respectively.
The junior women's race was marked by an Ethiopian triple. Marta Alemayo dominated the race in 19:28, ahead of Asayech Ayichew by four seconds and Robe Dida by ten seconds.
Among the men, it was the Kenyan Samuel Kibathi (22:40) who dominated the race in a very close match with the Ethiopian Mezgebu Sime (22:41). The Kenyan Matthew Kipkoech Kipruto took 3rd place by completing his race in 22:46.
The mixed relay was won by
