Australia’s World Cross Country Prospects
Published Thu 29 Dec 2022
29 December 2022
Australia’s World Cross Country Prospects
In six weeks the NSW country town of Bathurst will host the 44th edition of the World Athletics Cross Country Championships. In its nearly 50-year race history, Australia have won three medals at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships but have also placed fourth to sixth on 29 occasions. With Australian distance running on the crest of a wave, can we convert that momentum into podium finishes?
Australia’s roll of honour at the World Cross Country includes a gold medal in 2004 from Benita Willis and two bronze medals from our women’s teams in 2006 and 2008. There seems no doubt that they were assisted by the momentum following Australia hosting the 2000 Sydney Olympics and 2006 Commonwealth Games.
Australia has also had a lot of near misses, with 12 athletes placing fourth, fifth or sixth in individual races. They included a couple of epic performances, including Benita’s 2006 campaign of fourth in both the women’s senior races within 24 hours. In the ‘80s Rob de Castella placed sixth twice and Steve Moneghetti’s magical fourth in 1989.
In addition, our teams have been competitive, with 17 fourth, fifth or sixth places.
Australia have a number of prospects in the individual events, who, on their day, could surprise with a medal. But the best prospects look to be our teams, senior men and women, and specifically the 4x2km Mixed Relay – largely on the knowledge of our current world standing of our men and women 1500m athletes. NSW also has two strong mixed relay selection prospects - Jessica Hull and Ollie Hoare.
MIXED RELAY
The Tactics
The 4x2km Mixed Relay was added to the World Cross Country program in 2017 and has been held twice. Comprising two men and two women, there is definitely some tactics in the order the athlete’s race. Teams are able to determine the order the athletes will race. At the last World Cross Country in 2019 the first and last laps were a little longer. The shorter laps were 1955m and longer 2080m. However curiously the most popular order used in 2017 and 2019 was male, female, male, female. The top-4 teams in 2017 and 2019 followed this pattern. While we await the Team Manual to confirm, it appears in 2023 the first and fourth legs will be slightly longer.
At the European XC Championships, held this month, the legs were similar distances: 1400m+1440m+1440m+ 1442m for the 5772m race. The top-6 teams followed the pattern: male, female, male, female.
Teams need to confirm the names and order the morning of the race, so they have no insight into what other teams are planning.
Calibre of athlete
The 2019 WXC race:
Ethiopia (1st)
Kebede Endale - 1500m 3:36
Bone Cheluke - 1500m 4:08 (2:24 marathon)
Teddese Lemi - 1500m 3:31.90
Fantu Worku - 1500m 4:05 & 5000m 14:26
Morocco (2nd)
Soufiane El Bakkali - current World & Olympic Steeplechase champion, PB 7:58.15
Kaoutar Farkoussi - 5000m 15:34
Abdelaati Iguider - 1500m 3:28.79, World & Olympic 1500m medallist
Rababe Arafi - 1500m 3:58.84, World & Olympic 1500m finalist
Kenya (3rd)
Conseslus Kipruto - gold steeplechase 2016 Olympics, 2017 & 2019 Worlds, PB 8:00
Jarinter Mwasya – 1500m 4:09, 2022 African 800m champion
Elijah Manangoi – 2017 1500m World champion
Winfred Mbithe – 1500m 4:04
David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW
Image: Jessica Hull 2015 World XC Championships
EVENT PROFILE:
Name: 44th World Athletics Cross Country Championships
Where: Bathurst, NSW
When: Saturday 18 February 2023 and 3-day running festival 17-19 February 2023
What: 5 World Championships races: senior men 10km, senior women 10km, U20 men 8km, U20 women 6km and 4x2km mixed relay
Additional events: Masters World XC Championships, events for schools, open athletes, corporate teams, club teams and Para-athletes.
Who: Australia and the World’s best distance runners at distances from 1500m to the marathon meet over one distance. Australian team expected to include: Stewart McSweyn, Jessica Hull, Ollie Hoare, Brett Robinson, Jack Rayner and Rose Davies.
Further information including how to enter, entry conditions, timetables, course map, volunteering, coach education and more: https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-cross-country-championships/bathurst23
