World Cross Country Championships 2024: Kenya Conquers Belgrade, Bags Six Gold Medals

• Kenya once again dominated the World Cross Country Championships, winning eleven medals
• The 2024 Championships held in Belgrade, Serbia, saw Beatrice Chebet retain her women's title
• Sports Brief brings you a concise breakdown of every event and medals won by Team Kenya

Kenya emerged top at the 2024 World Cross Country Championships on March 31, winning three of the five available gold medals in Belgrade, Serbia.

Beatrice Chebet was the standout performer as she retained her women's senior title to become the first woman to do so after Ethiopia's Tirunesh Dibaba.

Here is how the event unfolded in the warm weather of the Serbian capital.

1. Women's U20 race

Kenya's morning got off to a disappointing start after Marta Alemayo led a 1-2-3 Ethiopian finish in the junior race. Sheila Jebet was the best-placed Kenyan, crossing the line in fourth place.

Luton rescue draw with Forest as Burnley keep survival hopes alive

Football

2. Men's U20 race

Samuel Kibathi avenged Kenya's miss in the women's category by sprinting to victory in the men's race. Kibathi pipped Ethiopia's Mezgebu Sime on the line. He clocked 22:40, a second better than his competitor. Mathew Kipkoech used 22:46 to come in third and claim bronze for Kenya.

3. Mixed relay

Kyumbe Munguti ran a splendid third leg to steer Kenya to victory in the mixed relay(man, woman, man, woman). The win saw Kenya retain the title they won in Bathurst, Australia, last year. Reynold Cheruyiot, Virginia Nyambura and Purity Chepkirui were the other members of the team.

The team clocked 22:15 to beat Ethiopia's time of 22:43. Munguti's strong leg, coupled up with Birri Abera losing her spike in the last leg, saw Kenya's lead at the top become insurmountable as Chepkirui took the baton.

Benjamin Azamati, Itsekiri Usheoritse Secure Spots in African Games Men's 100m Final After Semifinal Thrills

Athletics

Great Britain took bronze.

4. Women's senior race

Kenya's dominance in the discipline continued as the defending champion, Beatrice Chebet, led a clean sweep in the first five positions.

Lilian Kasait took silver, while Margaret Chelimo settled for bronze. The fastest women ever in the race, Emmaculate Anyango and Agnes Ngetich, surprisingly failed to make it to the podium, finishing fourth and fifth, respectively.

Chebet used a time of 31:05 ahead of Kasait's 31:08 and Chelimo's 31:09.

5. Men's Senior race

Uganda's Jacob Kiplimo defended his title from Australia last year with a brilliant final lap to win his country's only gold medal at the games. Ethiopia's Berihu Aregawi was second, while Benson Kiplangat took bronze for Kenya.

World Cross Country 2024 final medal table

2023 African Games: Simon Kiprop Wins Kenya’s First Athletics Medal, Ethiopia Take Gold

Athletics

Courtesy of World Athletics.

Asafa Powell's top sprinters

Asafa Powell has previously named his top five sprinters of all time as reported by Sports Brief.

The retired Jamaican athlete set two world records in the 100m before Usain Bolt hit the scene.