The world’s best cross country runners are set to descend on Mount Panorama in Bathurst for the World Athletics Cross Country Championships from February 17 to 19, 2023.
Widely known as the pinnacle of international cross country running, the 44th edition will feature over 500 athletes from more than 60 countries competing for world titles in the U20, Senior, and Mixed Relay categories. The weekend will also see masters athletes competing in World Masters Athletics Short Course Cross Country Championships over the same course.
Host nation Australia have sent a full complement of 28 athletes including Commonwealth 1500m champion Oliver Hoare, Olympic and world 1500m finalist Jessica Hull, Olympian Stewart McSweyn and Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Abbey Caldwell to race the mixed 4x2km relay, the event tagged as Australia’s best medal-winning chance in Bathurst. They are set to clash against Great Britain’s first-ever squad at a world cross championships, which includes European U23 bronze medallist Alexandra Millard as well as Olympic 800m finalist Alex Bell, who ran the anchor leg for GB gold at the 2021 European Cross Country Championships. Also in the mixed relay are athletes from the World Athletics refugee team programme; Angelina Nadai Lohalith having just made history this month by winning the European Champion Clubs Cup Cross Country and becoming the first Athlete Refugee Team member to claim victory in international competition.
Competitors will have the eyes of multiple world cross country gold and Olympic silver medalist Paul Tergat on them. The legendary long-distance runner from Kenya has been named ambassador for the World Athletics Cross Country Championships Bathurst. Tergat’s storied career began in cross country where he won a record five consecutive world championships between 1995 to 1999.
Mana Global’s 360 Sport and Entertainment arm alongside Gravity Media and World Athletics Productions is set to produce the broadcast and event presentation for the World Athletics Cross Country Championships.
