Kenya to face stern test in defence of gold medals as WXC entry list is revealed

Kenya will face a stern test during the World Athletics Cross Country Championships Belgrade 24 after an entry list of high-level stars was revealed.

The event will take place on March 30, 2024, where athletes from across the globe will converge and fight for the crowns in various disciplines.

During the last edition that was hosted in Bathurst, Australia, Kenya topped the medal table with a total of six gold medals.

Eyes will be specifically on Agnes Chebet, who went on to win the world 5000m bronze on the track and the inaugural world 5km road race title later in the year and was among Kenya’s champions in Bathurst. She will hope to defend her title in the senior women’s race with Agnes Ng'etich, the bronze medallist in Bathurst, and Emmaculate Anyango are expected to provide tough opposition.

Multiple Olympic champion Sifan Hassan is also on the entry list but the experienced Dutchwomna has confirmed she will not compete.

Uganda will be led by their top cream including Jacob Kiplimo and Joshua Cheptegei, who are the winners of the past two senior men’s titles.

Kenya will be represented by Sabastian Sawe. Of importance to note is that the full podium from Bathurst will clash again, as champion Kiplimo and bronze medallist Cheptegei line up along with Ethiopia’s silver medallist Berihu Aregawi. 

Lemlem Nibret of Ethiopia, who finished fifth in Bathurst, and Abel Bekele, seventh last year, again feature in the U20 races.

In the mixed relay, Kenya will seek to defend their title for which the nation’s squad features Purity Chepkirui, Mirriam Cherop, Reynold Cheruiyot, Kyumbe Munguti, Virginia Nyambura and Emmanuel Wanyonyi, including reserves.

Hagos Gebrhiwet is entered as part of the Ethiopian squad, while the host nation team features multiple European medallist Elzan Bibic, according the the list revealed.

Kenya at WXC

The youngest gold medallists are all Kenyans, with the youngest of all being Elizabeth Cheptanui, a U20 team gold medallist in 1994 at 13 years and 199 days.

The youngest individual winner is Lydia Cheromei, 1991 champion at 13 years and 317 days. The youngest U20 male winner is Ismael Kirui, U20 team gold medallist in 1990 at 15 years and 32 days.

Individually, the youngest is Robert Kipchumba, 2000 World U20 Cross Country Champion at 16 years and 24 days, according to World Athletics.

The final start lists for WXC Belgrade 24 will be available on Friday 29 March.