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?

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?

Beatrice Chebet, Jacob Kiplimo, and the sport of cross country were the big winners Down Under.

Six years ago, Cheptegei melted down at World XC on a hot day in Kampala. His team believes he is better prepared for the heat on Saturday.

Have you ever seen an xc course that splits into 3 paths as it goes through a vineyard? LetsRun's Jonathan Gault is in Australia and he gives you the highlights of his first day Down Under.

Two US stars and two relative unknowns comprise the US 4 x 2k relay team at World XC.

The men's race should be an all-time classic as it is totally stacked with Joshua Cheptegei, Geoffrey Kamworor, Selemon Barega, Jacob Kiplimo, & more. Letesenbet Gidey leads the women's race while host Australia is favored in the 4x2k relay.

World XC is coming to the USA for the first time since 1992 as Tallahassee, Florida was selected as the 2026 host.

A duel between legends was the headliner, but did you know the future greatest marathoner in history ended up making a classic beginning runner's mistake? 2005 World XC also featured an impressive double from Tirunesh Dibaba, an appearance from 15-year-old Aliphine Tuliamuk, and the last world xc appearances for Galen Rupp, Jenny Simpson, and Dathan Ritzenhein 

The 2007 World XC meet was one of the most memorable in history. The UNBEATABLE Kenenisa Bekele was not only beat - he quit mid-race while in medal position with only 800 meters to go. A truly insane day of racing in the heat of Mombasa, Kenya, that featured future Olympic champions Asbel Kiprop, Mo Farah, Stephen Kiprotich, Taoufik Makhloufi, Vivian Cheruiyot, and Tirunesh Dibaba.

Only one American man has ever won World XC. In his own words, Virgin describes how he survived his four "moments of truth" to win in Paris in 1980, where he celebrated with champagne long into the night.

Organizers are planning one hell of a party for next week's World XC Champs. The course features mud, water, and and pits, a beer tent, a portion that runs over the roof of a museum, and a Viking Zone. And it's all inspired by Chuck Norris.

Gollish quit the sport as a 20-year-old but recommitted herself at age 32 in 2014 and has improved rapidly since, winning the Canadian and NACAC XC titles this winter. She'll lead Team Canada on Sunday.