World Athletics Cross Country Championships 2024: Jacob Kiplimo, Beatrice Chebet repeat as world champions
Kenya's Beatrice Chebet and Uganda's Jacob Kiplimo each showed that their 2023 wins were no fluke as both retained their titles at the 2024 World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Belgrade on Saturday (30 March).
The pair went to the Serbian capital as favourites following their triumphs last year in Bathurst, Australia, and scored repeat wins albeit in different manners.
In the senior women's category, Chebet was one of five Kenyans who formed a lead group around halfway through the 10km race.
That was whittled down to three as Chebet, Lilian Rengeruk, and Margaret Kipkemboi broke clear near the end. They stuck together before Chebet attacked in the final few hundred metres, opening up a small gap before kicking on the finishing straight.
She crossed the line in 31:05, three seconds clear of Rengeruk and a further second ahead of Kipkemboi.
Meanwhile, Kiplimo tore the leading group apart with a devastating attack on the final lap of the men's race.
Kenya's Gideon Rono had attempted to break away from a lead group of around 10 runners on the penultimate lap, but was brought back by Kiplimo and his fellow Ugandan, Olympic 5000m champion Joshua Cheptegei.
However, as the pace increased on the last round around the 2km circuit, the lead group became increasingly strung out. An attack by Kiplimo even dropped Cheptegei, who could not keep up.
Eventually, Kiplimo eased to a comfortable win, having time to look behind him on the final straight to ensure he would not be caught before raising his hands in celebration.
The Olympic 10,000m bronze medallist completed the 10km race in 28:09, easing up in the final metres. Ethiopia's Berihu Aregawi, who was fourth behind Kiplimo in the 10,000m final in Tokyo, once again finished right behind the Ugandan, three seconds behind.
Kenya's Benson Kiplangat took bronze in 28:14 with Cheptegei back in sixth place.