In the upcoming World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Belgrade, Serbia, a rematch is set to take place between Joshua Cheptegei of Uganda and Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya. Alongside these two top names, other talented runners such as Berihu Aregawi of Ethiopia will also be competing.
The course in Belgrade offers a much flatter terrain compared to previous World Cross events, making it an exciting challenge for the athletes. 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 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.