2026 World Athletics Cross Country Championships


The 2026 World Athletics Cross Country Championships was an athletics meeting organized by World Athletics, held on January 10, 2026 at the Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, Florida, United States.
Jakob Kiplimo and Agnes Ngetich won the senior races, while Ethiopia won both team titles. Australia won the mixed relay.
Tallahassee was revealed as the location of the event, in July 2022. The date was announced by World Athletics President, Sebastian Coe, in Nanjing on 25 March 2025. The logo, including oranges, palm trees and a bright sun, was revealed in July 2025.

Schedule

The junior races preceded the senior races, and the senior men's event concluded the program.
The 46th edition of the World Athletics Cross Country Championships was held on 10 January 2026. The schedule consisted of five events- 10 km men and women, 8 km under-20 men, 6 km under-20 women, and 4 x 2 km mixed relay. In each of the races, each nation was allowed to field a maximum of up to six athletes.
The mixed relay team consisted of teams of two women and two men each running one loop of the course in a specified order, starting with a male and alternating between genders. Athletes were to carry a wristband that was to be transferred to the next athlete within the takeover zone.
DateTime Events
10 January09:45Mixed Relay
10 January10:20U20 race women
10 January10:55U20 race men
10 January11:35Senior race women
10 January12:20Senior race men

Senior Races Prize Money

Participation

A total of 485 athletes are entered for the championships, with 52 federations being represented.

Results

Senior women

RankAthleteTime
Agnes Jebet Ngetich.png" />Agnes Jebet Ngetich|Kenyasilver2

U20 men

RankAthleteTime
Frankline Kibet.png" />Frankline Kibet|Kenyasilver2

U20 women

RankAthleteTime
Marta Alemayo.png" />Marta Alemayo|Ethiopiasilver2

Controversies

At least 14 Ethiopian athletes were denied visas to enter the United States to participate in this competition. Ethiopia was unable to field teams in the men's and women's U20 races, ending Ethiopia's record of medaling in those competitions.
Although Ethiopia had won men's U20 team medals every year since 1982, in 2026 there was no Ethiopian U20 men's team as the US refused visas for all but one of the six men selected. Since their debut in 1990, Ethiopia's U20 women had won medals in 27 consecutive championships, including team golds at the last five events. In 2026, only three Ethiopian U20 women of six selected were granted visas. Four athletes are needed to complete a junior team at the world cross-country. According to Ethiopian officials, 23 of the original 34 visa requests were rejected.