The World Cross Country Championships have been historically dominated by East African nations, a fact that was only strengthened by the recent events that unfolded in Belgrade. Despite an unusually blazing heat in the Serbian capital, 26 out of the 27 medals in the five events were claimed by just three nations: Kenya with 11, Ethiopia with 10 and Uganda with 5.
The only team that managed to break this monopoly was Great Britain, who bagged a bronze in the mixed relay team race. They were the sole non-African country out of the 51 competitors to reach the podium. The supremacy of the East Africans was unrivalled, both in terms of individual performances and team standings.
The championships were held in the city’s Friendship Park where high temperatures of 27 degrees may have also played to the advantage of the East Africans. The eight participating athletes from Ireland had modest ambitions, aiming to place at least half-way up the field. Irish participant Hugh Armstrong was the leader of this contingent, securing a 50th place in the senior men’s category.
Armstrong, the 29-year-old debutant from Ballina, showed strategic intelligence, improving his position in the second part of the 10km race. This race was won by the defending champion Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda, who beat Berihu Aregawi from Ethiopia, and Benson Kiplangat from Kenya. This remained the only instance where the gold was not clinched by Ethiopia or Kenya.
Another Irish participant, Keelan Kilrehill, shared a fairly close margin with Armstrong and ended up at the 56th spot. On a brighter note, the day saw commendable performances from Irish female participants in the under-20 race. Both Anna Gardiner from East Down AC and Kirsty Maher from Moy Valley AC made it to the top-40, finishing at 37th and 39th respectively.
Gardiner, who turned 18 on the day of the race, portrayed promising potential. However, the women’s under-20 race was led to victory by a less recognized Ethiopian runner, Marta Alemayo, who is reportedly only 15 years old. She was followed by fellow Ethiopians Asayech Ayichew and Robe Dida, who claimed the second and third positions.
In the women’s senior race, all top five spots were dominated by Kenya, with Beatrice Chebet retaining her crown. The Kenyan team emerged victorious with a minimal score of 10 points, followed by Ethiopia with 41 points. Fiona Everard, the Irish cross-country victor from Bandon AC, ended up in the 63rd position, two spots ahead of Danielle Donegan from Tullamore Harriers AC.
The men’s under-20 category saw Harry Colbert of Waterford AC and Seamus Robinson of City of Derry Spartans AC, members of the Irish squad that secured gold at the European Cross Country Championships in Brussels the previous year, finishing 55th and 70th respectively.
Adding to Kenya’s triumphant run, Samuel Kibathi ensured that the race remained primarily a Kenyan field, contributing to Kenya clinching both the individual and team gold once again.