Beatrice Chebet wins cross country world title as Letesenbet Gidey collapses near finish, Jacob Kiplimo takes men's crown
Long-time leader Gidey was disqualified after receiving outside assistance on a day of East African dominance in Bathurst, Australia.
Athletics
Beatrice Chebet won a dramatic women's senior race at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Bathurst, Australia on Saturday (18 February).
Long-time leader and reigning world 10,000m champion Letesenbet Gidey looked certain to take victory as she held a commanding lead inside the last kilometre of the 10km race.
But the Ethiopian, who won bronze the last time this competition was staged in 2019, started to toil with Chebet rapidly closing the gap.
And inside the last 50m, Chebet surged past Gidey who collapsed to the ground.
Kenya's Commonwealth Games champion added the world crown to her junior race win in Aarhus, Denmark four years ago, and Gidey was disqualified after being helped to her feet.
Ethiopia's Tsigie Gebreselama took silver with Agnes Ngetich making it one and three for Kenya, who also took the team title, as East African runners filled the first 13 places.
Jacob Kiplimo beats rivals and storm to take men's title
The men's race was brought forward with what looked like a massive storm approaching.
As the weather worsened, the big names came to the fore including Uganda's defending champion Joshua Cheptegei, teammate Jacob Kiplimo and Kenya's two-time winner Geoffrey Kamworor.
Inside the final two kilometres, 2019 runner-up Kiplimo made his move and it proved to be decisive.
The 22-year-old came home nine seconds clear of Ethiopia's Berihu Aregawi with Olympic 5000m gold medallist Cheptegei just holding off Kamworor for bronze.
This time, the top 15 all came from East Africa as Uganda claimed the team crown.
Kenya defeated Ethiopia to take the 8km mixed relay with Australia, featuring Commonwealth 1500m champion Oliver Hoare, taking the bronze.
World Cross Country Championships 2023 results
Senior Women:
1. Beatrice Chebet (KEN) 33:48
2. Tsigie Gebreselama (ETH) 33:56
3. Agnes Ngetich (KEN) 34:00
4. Grace Nawowuna (KEN) 34:13
5. Fotyen Tesfay (ETH) 34:30
6. Hawi Feysa (ETH) 34:36
Women's team: Kenya
Senior Men:
1. Jacob Kiplimo (KEN) 29:17
2. Berihu Aregawi (ETH) 29:26
3. Joshua Cheptegei (UGA) 29:37
4. Geoffrey Kamworor (KEN) 29:37
5. Kibiwott Kandie (KEN) 29:57
6. Daniel Ebenyo (KEN) 30:01
Men's team: Uganda
Mixed Relay:
1. Kenya 23:14
2. Ethiopia 23:21
3. Australia 23:26
4. South Africa 23:50
5. United States 24:32
6. Great Britain 24:39