The globe's finest distance runners are set for a gruelling test of endurance and speed as the World Athletics Cross Country Championships unfold today in Tallahassee, Florida. Five prestigious titles will be decided on a challenging course that incorporates the rugged Floridian terrain, complete with sand, water, mud and hills.
How to Watch the World Cross Country Championships in the UK
For viewers across the United Kingdom, comprehensive live coverage of the entire event is available completely free of charge. The action will be broadcast live on BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport website and the BBC Sport app. The live broadcast is scheduled to commence at 2.35pm GMT on Saturday 10 January 2026.
Full Race Schedule and Key Contenders
The packed day of racing will see events for under-20 and senior athletes, culminating in the elite men's and women's 10km contests. The full schedule (all times GMT) is as follows:
- 2.45pm - Mixed relay
- 3.20pm - Women’s under-20 race (6km)
- 3.55pm - Men’s under-20 race (8km)
- 4.35pm - Women’s senior race (10km)
- 5.20pm - Men’s senior race (10km)
In the men's senior race, all eyes are on Uganda's Jacob Kiplimo. The two-time defending champion, fresh from victory at the Chicago Marathon, is the hot favourite to secure a remarkable hat-trick of world cross country titles. His primary rival is expected to be Ethiopia's Berihu Aregawi, the silver medallist behind Kiplimo at the last two championships. France's world 10,000m champion Jimmy Gressier also poses a significant threat.
The women's race is headlined by Kenya's Agnes Ngetich, the world 10km record holder, who will be aiming to upgrade her bronze medal from 2023. She faces stiff competition from within her own team, notably from national trials winner Maurine Chebor. For Great Britain, hopes are pinned on European silver medallist Megan Keith.
Prize Money and Championship Stakes
Substantial prize money is on offer for the elite senior races. Individual champions will earn US$30,000, with silver worth US$15,000 and bronze US$10,000. Team prizes are also lucrative, with the winning nation's squad sharing US$20,000. The victorious mixed relay team will take home US$12,000.
Kenya arrives as the defending nation from the Belgrade championships, where they topped the medal table with six golds, and are again favourites for the mixed relay crown. Today's event promises a dramatic battle for supremacy across all categories, as athletes tackle one of the most demanding courses on the international calendar.
