By Clay Shaw and Karen Mitchell

Bathurst, Australia, February 18, 2023, World Athletics World Cross Country Championships—Three men with big resumes were in serious contention for the senior men’s race (10K) title. Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda had won the junior race in 2017 in his home country of Uganda.  In 2019 he finished second in the senior race in Aarhus, Denmark.  To win in 2023 he would need to beat defending champ Joshua Cheptegei of Uganda and two-time champ Geoffrey Kamworor of Kenya.  Kamworor had won in Guiyang, China 2015 and in Kampala, Uganda 2017.  They all had to beat an impending storm.

This summer storm was approaching fast.  Race officials, with some quick thinking, started the senior women five minutes early and then the senior men twenty minutes early.  The wind began to blow violently, the skies darkened and spectators were asked to leave and take shelter.  The athletes kept running and were hustled to their pits upon finishing.  Awards were moved to an inside location at nearby Charles Sturt University.  As it turned out, lightning and rain did happen, and the sudden schedule change was smart.  

This was our first World XC south of the equator, although Kampala was close.  It’s currently summer in Australia with bright, harsh sun, and the temps were higher than usual for race day.  The races started at 3:30 pm, unusual for the sport.  We asked why 3:30, but didn’t really get an answer, although some people guessed that it was related to TV coverage.  This answer wouldn’t apply to the US.  With the 3:30 pm Saturday start time in Bathurst, in the Eastern Time Zone the event was 11:30 pm Friday – 3:00 am Saturday morning, not exactly prime time in the US.

The results: Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda won the men’s senior race (10K) in 29:17.  Joshua Cheptegei finished third in 29:37.  Kamworir finished fourth this year in 29:37.  Who was second?  Ethiopian speedster Berihu Aregawi was second in 29:26. Kibiwott Kandie was fifth and the final man under 30 minutes, in 29:57.

Kenya, Ethiopia, and Uganda were the podium teams (no big surprise).  Australia had a solid group and finished fourth.  South Africa was fifth, the USA was sixth, Spain was seventh, Tanzania was eighth, New Zealand was ninth.  Canada was tenth.  New to XC was Papua New Guinea, who placed 13^th in the team groupings.

Top Finishers

1. 29:17 Jacob Kiplimo, Uganda
2. 29:26 Berihu Aregawi, Ethiopia
3. 29:37 Joshua Cheptegei, Uganda
4. 29:37 Geoffrey Kamworor, Kenya
5. 29:57 Kibiwott Kandie, Kenya
6. 30:01 Daniel Ebenyo, Kenya
7. 30:04 Sabastian Sawe, Kenya
8. 30:06 Rodrigue Kwizera, Burundi
9. 30:10 Hailemariyam Amare, Ethiopia
10. 30:11 Mogos Tuemay, Ethiopia
11. 30:13 Chimdessa Debele, Ethiopia
12. 30:16 Selemon Barega, Ethiopia
13. 30:32 Nicholas Kipkorir, Kenya
14. 30:39 Getaneh Molla, Ethiopia
15. 30:40 Rogers Kibet, Uganda
16. 30:44 Precious Mashelle, South Africa
17. 30:53 Habtom Samuel, Eritrea
18. 30:56 Martin Kiprotich, Uganda
19. 30:57 Emmanuel Kipruto, Kenya
20. 30:57 Celestin Ndikumana, Burundi
21. 31:04 Samuel Chelanga, United States
22. 31:08 Aaron Las Heras, Spain
23. 31:11 Ky Robinson, Australia
24. 31:12 Isaac Kibet, Uganda
25. 31:12 Samsom Amare, Eritrea
26. 31:14 Santiago Catrofe, Uruguay
27. 31:18 Maxime Chaumeton, South Africa
28. 31:24 Josephat Gisemo, Tanzania
29. 31:30 Jack Rayner, Australia
30. 31:34 Samuel Kibet, Uganda

Categories: Race Coverage

Tags: 2023, featured, USATF, wabathurst23, World Athletics, World Cross Country 2023, World Cross Country Championships, WorldXC