World Cross Country in 2026 To Have Live Alligators in Mud Pit, Location Moved To Mar-a-Lago
By LetsRun.comAs long as we’ve been covering track and field, officials have been looking for the Holy Grail to make the sport more popular. Today, World Athletics officials said that after years of tinkering with the various options they have finally found the solution – they will be adding live alligators to the “mud pit” that has become a popular attraction at recent World Cross Country Championships.
Additionally, the organizers announced that the championships will no longer be held in Tallahassee, but rather will be hosted at former president Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach.
Alligators in the mud pit
“Have you seen how popular MMA is when death is only a remote possibility? Our data analytics team has assured me that simply by adding gators into the mix, the 2026 World Cross Country Championships will rival the Super Bowl in terms of TV ratings,” said World Athletics president Seb Coe at today’s press event, where he was accompanied by Florida governor Ron DeSantis, who was wearing his famed alligator boots, along with the world’s top hurdler, former Florida Gator Grant Holloway.
Coe explained the rationale of the changes. “Attendance was a little light at the most recent world XC championships, so we knew we needed to do something to spice things up. The live alligators will definitely enhance the fan interest.”
Tallahassee, home of Florida State University, objected to anything possibly being related to the Florida Gators at their championships, so alternative hosts were explored.
Picking Mar-A-Lago was easy according to Coe.
“Trump is pathological. From the crowds at the inauguration, to the presidential vote count, to the size of his own penis, Trump does not let reality get in his way. Regardless, if the fans turn out to see the gators, this will be the most attended World Cross Country ever,” said Coe.
