Defending champions Kenya will be aiming to secure a fourth mixed relay title at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships Tallahassee 26.
The East African nation has dominated the event since its introduction in 2017, claiming every title except one.
Three members of Kenya’s gold-medal team from 2024—Reynold Cheruiyot, Kyumbe Munguti and Purity Chepkirui—are set to compete again in Florida, eager to add another accolade to their collection.
Cheruiyot, the world 1500m bronze medallist, topped Kenya’s 2km trial race in October, finishing ahead of Munguti, who also struck mixed relay gold in 2023.
Chepkirui, the 2021 world U20 1500m champion, impressed with a commanding victory in the women’s trial.
Winfred Mbithe, a mixed relay gold medallist in 2017 and bronze medallist in 2019, is also included in the squad, though the final team selection will be confirmed closer to race day.
Ethiopia, the only other nation to have won a world cross-country mixed relay title following their triumph in 2019, will again pose a challenge.
Despite visa-related setbacks, they have named a strong team featuring 2022 world indoor 1500m bronze medallist Hirut Meshesha, African 10,000m bronze medallist Gela Hambese and 2021 world U20 1500m silver medallist Wegene Adisu.
