2024 World Athletics Cross Country Championships

We have a simple way to make World XC very important again - not just for those battling for the medals. Make it the primary way to qualify for the Olympics and Worlds in the 10,000.

On a day with 80+ degree temps, the Kenyan women put on a show. They were so good their 28:46 WR holder didn't even score. Weini Kelati was top US woman in 15th with Anthony Rotich top US man in 22nd.

Full results here.

The top athletes and your intrepid correspondent experimented with methods for hurdling the hay bales in Belgrade. Plus hear how Anthony Rotich ran 27:08 while running less than 70 miles per week.

Boots are on the ground in Serbia where Jonathan Gault reports the 80-degree temps on Saturday will be the real challenge not the very flat Belgrade course although it's been spiced up with hay bales, artificial hills and a mud pit.

The Kenyan Team is AMAZINGLY good. We just aren't sure which Kenyan is the favorite for gold. Is it the defending champ Beatrice Chebet who ran 14:05 last year or is it Kenyan champ Agnes Ngetich who just ran a 28:46 10k world record in January?

How to watch the 2024 World Athletics Cross Country Championships.

Kelati ran 66:25 at the Houston Half and 30:33 at The TEN and is looking to become the first US woman to finish in the top 10 at World XC since Shalane Flanagan in 2011.

*MB: An American woman hasn't finished in the top 10 at World XC in 13 years, will Weini Kelati end that streak in 2024?

Last year, the world's greatest footrace live up to its billing. What will happen in 2024? Joshua Cheptegei and Jacob Kiplimo have split the last two World XC titles. Will one of them break the tie in Serbia or could 12:40 man Berihu Aregawi or World Half champ Sabastian Sawe shake things up?

David Monti's pre-race article.