Tallahassee, United States: Uganda’s long-distance running sensation Jacob Kiplimo Saturday delivered a dominant performance to win the senior men’s race at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships, stamping his authority as one of the greatest cross-country runners of his generation.
Kiplimo powered to gold ahead of Ethiopia’s Berihu Aregawi, with Kenya’s Daniel Simiu Ebenyo taking bronze. The Ugandan sealed victory in emphatic fashion, opening an astonishing 18-second gap on the final lap.
The race began at a blistering pace, with USA’s Wesley Kiptoo surging to the front and clocking 5:39 for the opening lap. His bold move briefly stretched the field, but by the 3km mark, he was reeled in as the lead pack regrouped.
At 4km, East African dominance was unmistakable. Ethiopia’s Tadese Worku led the field, followed closely by Uganda’s Dolphine Chelimo and Ebenyo, as Kiplimo sat comfortably in fourth, patiently tracking every move.
Worku attempted to inject pace near halfway mark, briefly breaking away with Ebenyo and Kiplimo in pursuit. The surge proved short-lived. By 6km, Kiplimo asserted control, moving to the front of a tight lead group that included Aregawi, Ebenyo and Biniam Mehary.
The decisive moment came on the fourth lap. Ishmael Kipkurui and Worku dropped off, leaving four men battling for the podium. As the bell rang for the final lap, Mehary also fell away, setting up a three-man showdown.
Kiplimo then unleashed his trademark finishing power. Within a kilometre, he had opened an eight-second lead, before stretching it to a remarkable 18 seconds by the finish.
He crossed the line in 28:18, claiming a third consecutive world cross country title—a feat achieved by only three other men in history: John Ngugi, Paul Tergat and Kenenisa Bekele. It was also the biggest winning margin in the senior men’s race since 2007.
Aregawi finished second in 28:36 to claim his fifth global silver medal and third at the World Cross Country Championships, while Ebenyo secured bronze in 28:45. Ethiopia claimed team gold ahead of Kenya and Uganda.
Kiplimo also spearheaded Uganda’s best-ever medal haul at the championships, with the country finishing with seven medals, including two gold.
The triumph adds to an already glittering career for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic 10,000m bronze medallist. A three-time Olympian, Kiplimo now boasts five World Championship gold medals and eight global medals overall, having also won the Chicago Marathon last year.
In the senior women’s race, Kenya’s Agnes Jebet Ngetich claimed her first individual world title in 31:28 at Apalachee Regional Park. Uganda’s Joy Cheptoyek finished second, with Ethiopia’s Senayet Getachew third.
The 2026 championships marked the first time the World Cross Country event has been hosted in the United States since Boston in 1992.
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