By Clay Shaw Photography by Clay Shaw and Karen Mitchell
March 30, 2024, Belgrade, Serbia, World Athletics Cross Country Championships—Samuel Kibathi of Kenya and Mezgebu Sime of Ethiopia ran on the edges of the lead pack much of the race. On lap four the two got aggressive with surges and counter-surges to weaken the rest of the would-be lead pack. Kibathi prevailed with a one second win in 22:40.
Mezgebu Sime was second, just one second back in 22:41. Matthew Kipkoech Kipruto of Kenya was third in 22:46. Yismaw Dillu of Ethiopia was fourth in 22:48. Johana Erot of Kenya was fifth in 22:49. Charles Rotich of Kenya was sixth and the final scoring athlete for Team Kenya, which won the team title.
Ethiopia had their four runners across the line by eighth place. Uganda had athletes from eleventh to fifteenth to take third among the teams.
Tomoya Inoue of Japan was the first Non-Rift Valley athlete, finishing 16th in 23:58. Japan had four athletes in by 22nd place and took fourth among the teams. South Africa was 5th, Morocco was 6th, USA was 7th, Spain was 8th, Australia was 9th, and Great Britain was 10th.
Kevin Sanchez was top American in 24th place in 24:31. Kole Mathison was 30th in 24:49. Noah Breker was 45th in 25:22. Aidan Jones was 54th in 25:48, and Birhanu Harriman was 68th in 26:13.
Winner – Samuel Kibathi, Kenya “It was my first world championships, so it means a lot to me to win here. The pace was very fast and it almost cancelled my plans for this race. I had planned to stay behind and attack at the finish. It was so tough, so hard and I feel exhausted now. But it means a lot to me, I wanted this so much so I was really pushing fast towards the finish.”
2nd place – Mezgebu Sime, Ethiopia “I liked the race and the weather was just right for me, so that wasn’t a challenge. There was a strong competition, but I’m pleased with my second place. The mud was the biggest challenge for me. Now I will be prepping for the Olympic games trials.”
3rd place – Matthew Kipkoech Kipruto, Kenya “It is a bronze medal, but it tastes like gold. I enjoyed this track. The race was competitive, but the climate was good for me. Even though the race was hard, I liked it and I’m happy I won the third place. I have to admit that I was completely without the power in the finish.
50th place – Aldin Ćatović, Serbia “Today was a good race. It was my first time running the world race. The track was really rough, crossing the mud was the hardest for me, but I fought until the end. I’m very happy with my result. I placed better today than on the last competition that I was in, so I’m excited about that!”
Top Finishers
22:40 Samuel Kibathi, Kenya
22:41 Mezgebu Sime, Ethiopia
22:46 Matthew Kipkoech Kipruto, Kenya
22:48 Yismaw Dillu, Ethiopia
22:49 Johana Erot, Kenya
22:51 Charles Rotich, Kenya
22:52 Sewmehon Anteneh, Ethiopia
23:00 Jenberu Sisay, Ethiopia
23:02 Shadrack Rono Kipkemei, Kenya
23:16 Abdisa Fayisa, Ethiopia
23:23 Simba Samuel Cherop, Uganda
23:25 Dolphine Chelimo, Uganda
23:33 Abel Bekele, Ethiopia
23:36 Sailas Rotich, Uganda
23:47 Hosea Chemutai, Uganda
23:58 Tomoya Inoue, Japan
24:07 Osama Er-Radouani, Morocco
24:16 Titus Musau, Uganda
24:21 Kaito Matsui, Japan
24:25 Sota Orita, Japan
24:28 Gaston Rohmer, France
24:29 Yamato Hamaguchi, Japan
24:30 Rico Leijenaar, South Africa
24:31 Kevin Sanchez, USA
24:39 Zenzile Pheko, South Africa
24:41 Yobiel Weldrufael, Eritrea
24:44 Musawenkosi Mnisi, South Africa
24:46 Ilyas Aaourdou, Morocco
24:48 Ahmed Faris, Morocco
24:49 Kole Mathison, USA
Aggressive running pays off for Samuel Kibathi of Kenya as he wins by one second in 22:40.
Mezgebu Sime of Ethiopia proudly displays Ethiopian flag after his second place finish in the U20 men’s race.
USA U20 finishers: Kole Mathison, Kevin Sanchez, Aidan Jones, Birhanu Harriman, and Noah Breker.
Early lead pack features medalists Matthew Kipruto of Kenya (far left), Mezgebu Sime of Ethiopia (bright green vest), and Samuel Kibathi of Kenya (far right).
Matthew Kipruto, Charles Rotich, and Johana Erot of Kenya leap the hurdle just ahead of the massive lead pack on the first loop of the 8K U20 race. Kipruto finished third, Erot was fifth, and Rotich was sixth.
Mezgebu Sime of Ethiopia and Samuel Kibathi of Kenya run along the course border behind the huge lead pack. The race came down to an all-out sprint between these two. Kibathi won gold in 22:40. Sime was one second back in 22:41 to earn silver.
Tomoya Inoue of Japan was 16th in 23:58 and led Japan to fourth place among the teams. Osama Er-Radouani of Morocco was 17th in 24:07, as Morocco earned sixth among teams. These two are the first of the non-Rift Valley country athletes.
Kaito Matsui of Japan gives it a real game face as he sprints toward the finish in 19th place. Titus Masau of Uganda did outkick him for 18th place. Uganda placed third among teams; Japan was fourth.
Kevin Sanchez of the USA races South Africans Rico Leijenaar and Musawenkosi Mnisi in the U20 race. Leijenaar was 23rd, Sanchez was 24th, and Mnisi was 27th. South Africa was fifth among teams, and USA was seventh.
Kevin Sanchez of USA who won in Richmond, VA was top American in Belgrade. Sanchez was 24th in 24:31. Tseko Piet Thobala of South Africa was 42nd. Jack Coomber of Australia was 34th.
Kole Mathison of USA was 30th in 24:49 and second USA athlete in the U20 event.
Charlie Moore of Australia in the mix with Karl Ottfalk of Sweden and Mesfin Escanilla of Spain in the U20 race. Moore was 37th, Ottfalk was 43rd and Escamilla was 32nd.
Ky Hehir of Australia was 44th and Elliott Pugh of New Zealand was 49th in the U20 race. Kudos to Australia and New Zealand for traveling to World XC from the Southern Hemisphere.
Birhanu Harriman of USA runs behind Ian McAllister of Canada, and ahead of Kamran Brar, also of Canada. McAllister was 46th, Harriman was 68th, and Brar was 69th.
Noah Breker of USA finished 45th. Gaston Rohmer of France was 21st and top European. Kole Mathison of USA was 30th.
Aldin Catovic of Serbia was 50th in 25:37 and ninth European. Tetsu Sasaki of Japan was 65th. Ilyas Aaourdou of Morocco was 28th.
Aidan Jones of USA was 54th, Dylan Joel Carrasco of Columbia was 75th, and Harry Colbert of Ireland was 55th in the U20 race.
Aldin Catovic of Serbia, led his team, and placed 50th overall and ninth European.
Canada U20 men: Elliott Belanger, Leo Bedard, Charles Gendron-Jette and Kamran Brar.
Realeboga Smith of South Africa runs with New Zealand athletes Elliott Pugh and George Wyllie. Pugh was 49th, Smith was 61st, and Wyllie was 71st.
Angel Luis Reyes Ramirez of Mexico has something to say to Dylan Joel Carrasco of Columbia. Reyes Ramirez was 63rd and Carrasco was 75th.
Hugh Kent of Guam runs with Nurdaulet Medeubayev of Kazakhstan in the U20 men’s race. Kent, who ran in Bathurst in 2023, was 83rd. Medeubayev was 86th.
Kudos to our Canadian neighbors to the north: Angus Skinner, Leo Bedard, and Elliot Belanger race in the U20 race. The guys likely didn’t appreciate the hot day in Serbia.
Runner's Gazette 
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