Australia’s distance runners showed their strength at the 2024 World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Belgrade, Serbia. The men’s senior team, led by impressive debutants Haftu Strintzos and Edwards Marks, secured a fantastic fifth place finish.
Strintzos, fresh off his win at the Australian Cross Country Trials, placed a remarkable 23rd out of 111 runners.
“It was competitive, but I felt confident with our experienced team,” Strintzos said. “We went out strong and ambitious, and I’m proud of how we held together.”
Fellow debutant Marks followed closely behind in 24th. Olympians Liam Adams and Patrick Tiernan rounded out the top four Australians, all finishing within the top 30, with 29th and 30th placings respectively.
Andre Waring and Zach Facioni also contributed strong finishes, placing 46th and 51st respectively.
“I won’t lie, I didn’t know how we would fare as a team, but it was really inspiring out there,” Tiernan said.
“It shows just what a great place Australian distance running is in. It’s something we as a team and as a country should be really proud of.”
Jacob Kiplimo from Uganda recorded a back-to-back victory, defending the title he claimed last year in Bathurst.
The Ugandan now sits alongside the likes of Kenenisa Bekele, Geoffrey Kamworor and Paul Tergat as back-to-back winners of the senior men’s title. Ethiopia’s Berihu Aregawi, meanwhile, also repeated his finish from the last edition to take silver, while Kenya’s Benson Kiplangat earned a surprise bronze.
On the women’s side, Paige Campbell battled hard in the 10km race, finishing 31st. Melissa Duncan was the only other Australian in the open field, placing 53rd. Kenyans dominated the podium, with Beatrice Chebet retaining her world title.
Beatrice Chebet from Kenya retained her title, with her compatriots Lilian Kasait Rengeruk and Margaret Chelimo Kipkemboi taking the minor medals.
Young talent Gabrielle Schmidt led the way for the junior women, finishing a commendable 21st in the scorching Under 20 6km race. Her performance helped the junior women’s team secure a seventh-place finish. Sienna Bush (36th), Charli-Rose Carlyon (38th), Alexandra Schulz (43rd), Gretta Johnson (53rd), and Emma de Jong (55th) all contributed valuable points for the team.
In the Under 20 men’s 8km race, Jack Coomber led the Aussies with a 34th-place finish, a significant improvement from his 2023 performance. Charlie Moore (37th), Ky Hehir (44th), Logan Tickell (51st), Padraig Heffernan (53rd), and Seth Mahony (60th) all displayed strong racing spirit.
Overall, the 2024 World Cross Country Championships were a great showcase for Australian distance running. The strong team performances and individual breakthroughs bode well for the future.
