World Athletics Release Final Entry Lists Ahead of Cross Country Battle in Tallahassee

The stage is set for the World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee, Florida, with official entry lists confirming that 485 athletes from 52 nations will compete on Saturday, 10 January.

The global event will feature 246 athletes in the senior individual races (145 men, 101 women) and 163 competitors in the U20 races (87 men, 76 women). Additionally, 15 teams are slated to contest the mixed relay.

At the previous championships in Belgrade in 2024, Kenya dominated the medal table, securing 11 medals, including six golds, ahead of rivals Ethiopia and Uganda.

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Uganda's Jacob Kiplimo arrives in Tallahassee as the man to beat, aiming to defend his senior men's title. The 25-year-old is seeking a remarkable third consecutive victory after triumphs in Bathurst (2023) and Belgrade (2024). His journey in the sport also includes a U20 title won on home soil in Kampala back in 2017.

Jacob Kiplimo will be joined by teammate Dan Kibet, who was part of Uganda's silver medal-winning team at the last edition.

Their primary challenger is expected to be Ethiopia's Berihu Aregawi, the Olympic 10,000m silver medallist who finished runner-up to Jacob Kiplimo in both Bathurst and Belgrade. Berihu Aregawi leads a strong Ethiopian squad that also features Biniam Mehary and Tadese Worku.

The field is stacked with talent, including world 10,000m champion Jimmy Gressier of France, European cross-country champion Thierry Ndikumwenayo of Spain, and Kenya's world half-marathon silver medallist Daniel Ebenyo.

Kenya's Agnes Ngetich, the world 10km record-holder, returns to the World Cross Country stage after winning bronze in Bathurst three years ago. She will lead the Kenyan team alongside national trials winner Maurine Chebor.

They face stiff competition from Uganda’s Sarah Chelangat, who placed fifth in Belgrade two years ago, and Joy Cheptoyek, a seventh-place finisher in the world 10,000m final in Tokyo. Ethiopia's team includes Senayet Getachew, the 2023 U20 world cross country champion.

Representing the host nation, Weini Kelati Frezghi secured her spot by winning the US Cross Country Championships in Portland. She will be joined by runner-up Katie Izzo on the American team.

In the U20 women's race, 17-year-old Marta Alemayo of Ethiopia is set to defend her title. Kenya will also defend its mixed relay crown.

Their powerful squad includes world 1500m bronze medallist Reynold Cheruiyot, Purity Chepkirui, and Kyumbe Munguti, all of whom were part of the gold medal-winning team in Belgrade.

World Athletics further noted that the final start lists will be confirmed and published on the eve of the competition.