Australia’s decision to field a full-strength team was richly rewarded with a commanding victory in the mixed relay at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee on Saturday, ending Kenya’s four-event reign in the opening discipline.
The Australian quartet of Olli Hoare, Linden Hall, Jack Anstey and Jessica Hull upgraded their bronze from 2023 to gold, stopping the clock at 22:23 to finish ahead of surprise silver medallists France. Kenya finished just outside the podium places.
Uganda’s Silas Chemutai set a brisk tempo on the opening leg, reaching the one-kilometre mark in 2:33, narrowly ahead of USA’s Ethan Strand, Kenya’s Reynold Cheruiyot and Australia’s Hoare.
Cheruiyot, the world 1500m bronze medallist, moved through the field late in the lap, but Strand surged clear over the section featuring alligator-shaped wooden logs.
Although Cheruiyot briefly regained the lead through the mud, Strand closed the leg in front in 5:12, with France and Australia in third and fourth.
Kenya’s Winfred Mbithe, a two-time medallist in the event, restored her team to the lead early on leg two, but Linden Hall soon asserted control for Australia, opening up a decisive advantage.
Behind her, USA’s Sage Hurta-Klecker slipped back, while Ethiopia’s Gela Hambese and France’s Sarah Madeleine remained in touch. Hall handled the log section smoothly, while Mbithe faded late, allowing the chasers to close.
At halfway, Hall led by six seconds, with Madeleine lifting France into second. Karabo More’s strong split moved South Africa into third.
Jack Anstey faced mounting pressure on the third leg as France’s Antoine Senard reeled in the Australians, cutting the margin to just one second at 5km. Senard then took the lead and carried it through to the changeover, handing to European indoor 1500m champion Agathe Guillemot late in the zone.
Anstey limited the losses, sending Olympic 1500m silver medallist Jessica Hull into the final leg only two seconds adrift.
Hull methodically closed the gap and surged into a two-second lead with one kilometre remaining.
Ethiopia’s Hirut Meshesha moved into third, leaving defending champions Kenya outside the medals.
Digging deep through the logs and mud, Hull held off a determined Guillemot to the line, smiling as she secured gold for Australia in 22:23, three seconds clear of France.
Ethiopia claimed bronze in 22:34, while Kenya missed the mixed relay podium at the World Cross Country Championships for the first time.