Little known Ethiopian Marta Alemayo upset the pre-race favourites to emerge victorious in the U20 women&rsquo;s race at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships Belgrade 24.
The 15-year-old, who finished fourth at the Ethiopian trials, punched her hand in the air when crossing the finish line in 19:28 in a humid 24&deg;C Friendship Park.
The teenager led an Ethiopian medal sweep, with Asayech Ayichew and Robe Dida finishing second and third in 19:32 and 19:38 respectively. After winning the three medals, Ethiopia successfully defended the individual title and also got the team title for the fifth consecutive edition since 2015.
Alemayo credited her victory and the Ethiopian performance to proper training.&nbsp;
From the outset, Alemayo and her compatriots made their intention clear, running from the front alongside the Kenyan and Ugandan athletes.&nbsp;
It was the Japanese Narumi Okumoto who set the tempo and led after the first few minutes, blowing the field open with a 50m advantage, but it was short-lived as Kenya&rsquo;s Deborah Chemutai closed up the gap with the rest of the pack joining her.&nbsp;
The Kenyan and Ethiopian athletes continued to exchange the lead, maintaining a moderate pace through the first lap, with Uganda right behind.&nbsp;
The group of 13 athletes, led by Kenya&rsquo;s Diana Cherotich, ran through the hay barrier &ndash; none choosing to jump over it &ndash; and then Alemayo took over. The second lap was covered in 6:07, with Ayichew and Cherotich leading the pack.&nbsp;
On the third lap, it was down to all six Ethiopian athletes running from the front. Alemayo covered the distance in 6:34.&nbsp;
As the race wound up, Alemayo, Ayichew and Dida commanded the race along with Kenya&rsquo;s Sheila Jebet and Cherotich. With 800m to go, it was down to Alemayo and Ayichew.&nbsp;
Alemayo was too strong &ndash; she surged away and went on to cut the tape. Ayichew was close behind her for silver and Dida passed Jebet with 50m to go to get bronze.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Yes, I was expecting to do well, and I am not surprised with the win,&rdquo; said Alemayo. &ldquo;The win is not important only in itself, but it will also help set up the rest of my career.&nbsp;
&ldquo;We were well prepared for this race. We have great coaches, who give us a lot of support.&rdquo;
The results again reflect the East African dominance, with no other athlete outside of Kenya or Ethiopia having won the U20 women&rsquo;s world cross country title for 29 years.
Michelle Katami for World Athletics 
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 75%; border-color: #222222; border-style: solid;" border="1" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="3">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="background-color: #fd5249; text-align: center;" colspan="3">U20 WOMEN'S INDIVIDUAL RESULTS</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 10%; background-color: #e9c968; text-align: center;">🥇</td>
<td style="width: 60%; background-color: #e9c968;">Marta Alemayo (ETH)</td>
<td style="width: 30%; background-color: #e9c968;">19:28</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 10%; background-color: #ced4d9; text-align: center;">🥈</td>
<td style="width: 60%; background-color: #ced4d9;">Asayech Ayichew (ETH)</td>
<td style="width: 30%; background-color: #ced4d9;">19:32</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 10%; background-color: #bd895e; text-align: center;">🥉</td>
<td style="width: 60%; background-color: #bd895e;">Robe Dida (ETH)</td>
<td style="width: 30%; background-color: #bd895e;">19:38</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 10%; text-align: center;">4</td>
<td style="width: 60%;">Sheila Jebet (KEN)</td>
<td style="width: 30%;">19:45</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 10%; text-align: center;">5</td>
<td style="width: 60%;">Diana Cherotich (KEN)</td>
<td style="width: 30%;">19:47</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 10%; text-align: center;">6</td>
<td style="width: 60%;">Yenawa Nbret (ETH)</td>
<td style="width: 30%;">19:50</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 10%; text-align: center;">7</td>
<td style="width: 60%;">Deborah Chemutai (KEN)</td>
<td style="width: 30%;">19:51</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 10%; text-align: center;">8</td>
<td style="width: 60%;">Lemlem Nibret (ETH)</td>
<td style="width: 30%;">20:01</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 10%; text-align: center;">9</td>
<td style="width: 60%;">Shito Gumi (ETH)</td>
<td style="width: 30%;">20:02</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 10%; text-align: center;">10</td>
<td style="width: 60%;">Nowel Cheruto (UGA)</td>
<td style="width: 30%;">20:04</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="background-color: #34495e; text-align: left;" colspan="3">&nbsp;&nbsp;<a style="color: #ffffff;" href="https://worldathletics.org/en/competitions/world-athletics-cross-country-championships/belgrade24/results/women/u20-race/final/result" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Full results</a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
&nbsp;
<table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 75%; border-color: #222222; border-style: solid;" border="1" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="3">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="background-color: #fd5249; text-align: center;" colspan="3">U20 WOMEN'S TEAM RESULTS</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 10%; background-color: #e9c968; text-align: center;">🥇</td>
<td style="width: 60%; background-color: #e9c968;">Ethiopia</td>
<td style="width: 30%; background-color: #e9c968;">12</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 10%; background-color: #ced4d9; text-align: center;">🥈</td>
<td style="width: 60%; background-color: #ced4d9;">Kenya</td>
<td style="width: 30%; background-color: #ced4d9;">28</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="width: 10%; background-color: #bd895e; text-align: center;">🥉</td>
<td style="width: 60%; background-color: #bd895e;">Uganda</td>
<td style="width: 30%; background-color: #bd895e;">48</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="background-color: #34495e; text-align: left;" colspan="3">&nbsp;&nbsp;<a style="color: #ffffff;" href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-cross-country-championships/belgrade24/results/women/u20-race/final/team" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Full results</a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://worldathletics.org/videos/playlist/wxc-belgrade-24" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Watch World Athletics Cross Country Championships Belgrade 24 highlights</a></li>
</ul>

45th World Athletics Cross Country Championships

Marta Alemayo upset the pre-race favourites to emerge victorious in the U20 women’s race

Alemayo dominates to lead Ethiopia to team U20 gold in Belgrade

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe underlined the importance of the World Athletics Cross Country Championships on the eve of this year&rsquo;s event in Belgrade on 30 March.
Speaking at the pre-event press conference at Belgrade&rsquo;s Town Hall, Coe explained how cross-country running is often a springboard to success on other surfaces.
"I&rsquo;m delighted to be joined by these great athletes today, and I&rsquo;m grateful they&rsquo;ve made time to help spread the important message,&rdquo; said Coe. &ldquo;Cross country is an integral part in the development pathway for many endurance athletes.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m particularly pleased to be at our second World Athletics Series event of the year, following the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow just a few weeks ago. I&rsquo;m delighted that our second World Championships of 2024 will be here in Belgrade &ndash; a city we&rsquo;re now becoming very familiar with. In recent years it has served not just European Athletics but World Athletics very well.
&ldquo;We gave Belgrade a very compacted timeframe to deliver these championships, but from the very outset the commitment was immediate and instant,&rdquo; added Coe. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m looking forward to watching almost 500 athletes from about 50 teams compete tomorrow, many of whom will be looking to use this as a platform towards the Olympic Games in Paris later this year.&rdquo;
Aleksandar &Scaron;apic, the Mayor of Belgrade, spoke of his pride in welcoming the world to his city.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m very honoured and glad that we&rsquo;ve been given the opportunity to host one of biggest world-class athletics events,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s the fourth time Belgrade has hosted a big athletics competition, following on from the 2013 European Cross, the 2017 European Indoors, and the 2022 World Indoor Championships. I&rsquo;d like to wish all athletes a beautiful stay in Belgrade and I hope you all achieve great results in tomorrow&rsquo;s races.&rdquo;
Serbian Athletics Federation President Veselin Jevrosimović was also delighted to be hosting another major athletics event.
&ldquo;Serbia is the only country in the world that has hosted two World Championships within the past two years,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Along with the 2013 European Cross and 2017 European Indoors, all of our events were praised for their high level of organisation, and I have no doubt tomorrow&rsquo;s championships will be the same.&rdquo;
Defending senior women&rsquo;s champion Beatrice Chebet explained how her victory in Bathurst last year set her up for the best season of her career to date.
&ldquo;My 2023 season was a great one,&rdquo; said the Kenyan. &ldquo;It started in Australia, winning the world cross-country title, which motivated me a lot and set me up for the rest of the year. I went on to win the 5000m bronze medal in Budapest, then in Riga I won the 5km and at the end of the year I broke the world 5km record in Barcelona.
&ldquo;Kenya has a strong team here, so hopefully we&rsquo;ll return home with more medals and the team title.&rdquo;
Defending senior men&rsquo;s champion Jacob Kiplimo is also hopeful of returning to his home country with more medals.
The Ugandan won the U20 title on home soil in Kampala in 2017, then earned senior silver in 2019 before winning gold in Bathurst last year.
&ldquo;I have done a lot of training for this event and I&rsquo;m excited to race tomorrow,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I think it will be a good race, and hopefully we&rsquo;ll see the Ugandan flag flying during the medal ceremonies.&rdquo;
Three-time European cross-country champion Karoline Bjerkeli Grovdal said she&rsquo;s excited to be contesting her first World Cross since 2010.
&ldquo;I love cross country and I&rsquo;ve done a lot of European championships, and this time the World Cross is in Europe so it was an easy event for me to attend,&rdquo; said the Norwegian. &ldquo;I want to test my form and see how my winter training has been going.
&ldquo;It&rsquo;s difficult for me to pick a favourite surface,&rdquo; she added. &ldquo;Cross country is something I&rsquo;ve always enjoyed and been good at, but I also like to chase times, which leads me more to the road and track.&rdquo;
Serbia&rsquo;s European indoor 3000m bronze medallist Elzan Bibic explained how he&rsquo;s looking forward to competing on a global stage on home soil.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;m really proud that my country is hosting another world-class competition, and it&rsquo;s a pleasure to compete in front of a home crowd,&rdquo; said Bibic. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m glad we&rsquo;ve gathered this many champions for the event.
&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll be running the first leg for Serbia in the mixed relay,&rdquo; he added. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ll do our best and aim to finish in the top half.
&ldquo;I hope all of the runners and coaches enjoy the competition.&rdquo;

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe underlined the importance of the World Athletics Cross Country Championships on the eve of this year’s event in Belgrade on 30 March.

Coe: ‘cross country is integral for the development of endurance athletes’

Since the mixed relay was introduced to the programme in 2017, Kenya has won two titles and Ethiopia has secured one. They will clash again at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships Belgrade 24 on Saturday (30).
Kenya claimed the inaugural relay crown ahead of Ethiopia and Turkiye in Kampala seven years ago and then Ethiopia won from Morocco and Kenya in Aarhus in 2019. Kenya regained the title in Bathurst in 2023, denying Ethiopia and host nation Australia, and now the Kenyan squad is ready to mount a strong title defence.
The event in Belgrade will involve teams of two women and two men each running one loop of the course in the order man-woman-man-woman. The course loop is 1887m, but the first and last legs will be around 200m longer. Athletes must carry a wristband that will be transferred to the next athlete within the takeover zone.
Kenya and Ethiopia are among the 12 teams entered, as they go for gold again in Friendship Park.&nbsp;
Three of the four winning team members from Bathurst are back on the Kenyan squad for Belgrade. Emmanuel Wanyonyi won the world U20 800m title in 2021 and went on to finish fourth when making his senior debut at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon in 2022. A year on from his mixed relay success in Australia, he now heads to Serbia as the world 800m silver medallist, Diamond League champion and Rising Star award winner, looking for another honour to add to his CV.
Mirriam Cherop ran the second leg in Bathurst while Kyumbe Munguti took on the third and they could both join Wanyonyi in Belgrade. Kenya has named a six-strong squad to select a team from and adding further quality are world U20 mile record-holder Reynold Cheruiyot, who secured silver in the U20 men&rsquo;s race in Bathurst last year and won the 2022 world U20 1500m title, plus 2021 world U20 1500m champion Purity Chepkirui and Virginia Nyambura.
The final composition of teams must be declared 95 minutes before the race in Belgrade.
Ethiopia has also named a six-strong squad, headed by world 5km champion Hagos Gebrhiwet. The 29-year-old won the world U20 cross country title in Bydgoszcz in 2013 and has gone on to become an Olympic and two-time world 5000m medallist. Now he makes a return to cross country running fresh from his African 5000m title win in Accra last Friday.
Joining him in the squad is Adehena Kasaye, who formed part of Ethiopia&rsquo;s silver medal-winning team in Bathurst, plus Birri Abera, Dahdi Dube, Hiwot Mehari and Taresa Tolosa.
Morocco, silver medallists between Ethiopia and Kenya in 2019, fields a team featuring Kaoutar Farkoussi who ran the second leg to help her nation to that runner-up finish in Aarhus. She&rsquo;s joined by Hicham Akankam, Bathurst team member Hafid Rizqy and Rahma Tahiri.
USA finished fourth in Aarhus and fifth in Bathurst. Back on the medal hunt, this time the quartet includes Pan-American 5000m champion Kasey Knevelbaard, plus Ella Donaghu, Katie Izzo and John Reniewicki.
Another athlete to watch out for is Nozomi Tanaka, who is entered for her fourth global championship in eight months. After finishing eighth in the 5000m at the World Athletics Championships, eighth in the mile at the World Road Running Championships and eighth in the 3000m at the World Indoor Championships, she now returns to form part of Japan&rsquo;s mixed relay team in Belgrade. Tanaka raced at the World Cross Country Championships last year, too, finishing 14th in the senior women&rsquo;s race.
The host nation team includes multiple European medallist Elzan Bibic, Nikola Raicevic, Teodora Simovic and Milica Tomasevic.
Jess Whittington for World Athletics

Since the mixed relay was introduced to the programme in 2017, Kenya has won two titles and Ethiopia has secured one. They will clash again at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships Belgrade 24

WXC Belgrade 24 mixed relay preview: past champions Kenya and Ethiopia clash

Over the past 15 editions, all individual medals in the U20 men&rsquo;s race have been won by athletes from Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda. It would be a surprise if that trend came to an end at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships Belgrade 24.
Predicting a winner, though, is a difficult task.
Anyone who wins the highly competitive Kenyan trials will be a medal contender on the global stage, so many eyes will be on Samuel Kibathi. He has competed on the international stage before, finishing sixth in the 5000m at the 2022 World U20 Championships, and last year he took bronze over 10,000m at the African U20 Championships.
Charles Rotich finished just one second behind Kibathi at the Kenyan Cross Country Championships. He finished 12th at last year&rsquo;s World Cross in Bathurst and earned team gold, but will be keen to contend for individual medals this time.
But, as has been the case for many decades now, Ethiopia will pose a strong threat to Kenya&rsquo;s individual and team medal chances.
Their U20 men&rsquo;s squad is led by Abel Bekele, who won their national trials. He placed seventh in Bathurst last year and earned team silver.
Yismaw Dillu was also part of Ethiopia&rsquo;s silver-medal-winning team last year, then he went on to represent his country over 10,000m at the World Championships in Budapest.
Mezgebu Sime is another who has already made an impact as a senior, recently winning the national 5000m title.
Uganda took team silver in 2019 but didn&rsquo;t have enough competitors to score in the team contest last year. This time they have fielded a full squad, led by Hosea Chemutai who was 11th in Bathurst. Also watch out for Silas Rotich, who finished fourth at the 2022 World Mountain Running Championships. Esteemed compatriot Jacob Kiplimo, the senior men&rsquo;s defending champion, came via the mountain running route before achieving success on the track, road and cross country.
Eritrea&rsquo;s Yobiel Weldrufael placed ninth in the mile at the World Road Running Championships last year. He also has fond recent memories of Belgrade, because during the indoor season he set a senior national indoor 1500m record of 3:39.09 in the Serbian capital.
USA took a surprise team bronze in Bathurst last year and they&rsquo;ll be keen to prove it wasn&rsquo;t a fluke. Kole Mathison, who was part of that team and finished 25th individually last year, is joined on the squad by national U20 cross-country champion Kevin Sanchez.
Mexico&rsquo;s Victor Daniel Perez Igari and Angel Luis Reyes Ramirez head to Belgrade full of confidence after finishing 1-2 at last month&rsquo;s Pan-American Cross Country Championships.
Japanese U20 cross-country champion Yamato Hamaguchi is joined on his country&rsquo;s squad by Sota Orita, a 13:28.78 performer over 5000m.
Henry Dover was sixth at the European Cross Country Championships in December and he leads the British team alongside James Dargan, who was fourth over 5000m at the Euro U20 Championships.
Others to look out for include Sweden&rsquo;s Karl Ottfalk, who was fourth at the European Cross, Spanish U20 cross-country champion Mesfin Escamilla, and Australian U20 cross-country champion Jack Coomber, who finished in the top 50 in Bathurst.
Jon Mulkeen for World Athletics

Over the past 15 editions, all individual medals in the U20 men’s race have been won by athletes from Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda

WXC Belgrade 24 U20 men's preview: Kenya and Ethiopia set to battle once more

Some of the world&rsquo;s best distance athletes have won the U20 women&rsquo;s world cross country title, using it as a launch path to their senior careers. The elite group includes multiple world and Olympic champions Faith Kipyegon, Tirunesh Dibaba and Vivian Cheruiyot, as well as 2022 world 10,000m champion Letesenbet Gidey and reigning senior women&rsquo;s champion Beatrice Chebet.&nbsp;
The U20 women&rsquo;s race has seen either a Kenyan or Ethiopian triumph since 1996, with Ethiopia winning in Bathurst last year through Senayet Getachew. This fierce rivalry will play out again at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships Belgrade 24 on Saturday (30).
While Kenya has a decorated history, Ethiopia has been in command of the U20 women&rsquo;s team title for the past four editions (2015, 2017, 2019 and 2023). Winning their fifth successive women&rsquo;s team title while defending the individual crown will be Ethiopia&rsquo;s driving force at Friendship Park.&nbsp;
Lemlem Nibret is among the Ethiopian athletes running for the title defence in the 6km event. The 19-year-old will be out to improve on her fifth-place finish from Bathurst. During the World Cross Country Tour, she finished second in Zornotza and eighth in Atapuerca.&nbsp;&nbsp;
The Ethiopian squad of six also includes African U20 3000m silver medallist Yenawa Nbret, who won Ethiopia&rsquo;s trials for Belgrade at the Jan Meda International Cross Country. There is Asayech Ayichew, whose strong performance during the World Cross Country Tour led her to finish second in three Gold competitions in Spain and eighth overall for the 2023-24 season. Robe Dida, who in February won the African U20 cross-country title, Marta Alemayehu, Yenenesh Shmekt and Shito Gumi also form part of the Ethiopian group.
Ethiopia will be cognizant of its Eastern African challenger, Kenya.
Kenyan athletes won individual bronze and team silver in Bathurst, but in Belgrade they'll be seeking their first U20 women's team title since 2013. The U20 women's squad is led by Sheila Jebet, winner of the Kenyan Cross Country Championships, and she is joined by Deborah Chemutai, the 2019 African U18 3000m silver medallist.
Diana Cherotich, fourth in the 5000m at the African U20 Championships, and Mercy Chepkemoi complete the Kenyan squad.&nbsp;
USA won a historic team bronze in the U20 women&rsquo;s race in Bathurst and three members of that team &ndash; Ellie Shea, Zariel Macchia and Allie Zealand &ndash; are back on the squad for Belgrade. Shea led the team to that bronze, finishing 10th in the individual race.
European U20 cross country champion and 17-year-old rising star Innes Fitzgerald will lead the four-member U20 women&rsquo;s team for Great Britain &amp; Northern Ireland.
Also watch out for Uganda, led by Charity Cherop, who finished 15th in Bathurst, plus Australia's Charli-Rose Carlyon, 39th in Bathurst, and the Japanese, Spanish, South African and Moroccan teams.&nbsp;
The host nation has selected five athletes aged between 15 and 17 for the U20 competition. They have all previously featured at European U18 and U20 Championships and the European Cross Country Championships.&nbsp;
The Serbian contingent comprises Saima Muric, the 2022 national 800m champion who recently finished third at the White Cross race in Belgrade. Natalija Grujic, the 2022 national indoor 3000m gold medallist and this year&rsquo;s national 4x400m indoor champion; Mejra Mehmedovic, winner of the 3000m at the Serbian U20 Indoor Championships; Lenka Nikolic and 15-year-old Jana Rajic complete the Serbian team.
A total of 92 athletes have been entered for the U20 women&rsquo;s race which will get the competition in Belgrade under way.
Michelle Katami for World Athletics

Some of the world’s best distance athletes have won the women’s U20 world cross country title as a launch path to their senior careers

WXC Belgrade 24 U20 women's preview: Ethiopia set for double title defence

The top three finishers in the senior men&rsquo;s race from last year&rsquo;s edition will return for another clash at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships Belgrade 24 on Saturday (30).
Uganda&rsquo;s Jacob Kiplimo will defend his title against a strong field that includes 2023 runner-up Berihu Aregawi, and 2023 bronze medallist and 2019 winner Joshua Cheptegei, the three-time world 10,000m champion.
The line-up also includes another global title winner in the form of world half marathon champion Sabastian Sawe of Kenya.
Uganda has claimed back-to-back senior men&rsquo;s titles through Kiplimo and Cheptegei, and these two will race to claim a historic hat-trick for their country. The duo will be joined by Martin Kiprotich, who finished 18th in Bathurst, and African U20 5000m champion Dan Kibet, who finished second at last month&rsquo;s Ugandan Cross Country Championships, won by Kiplimo.
Kiplimo, who delivered Uganda&rsquo;s first-ever World Cross Country gold medal when he won the U20 title on home soil in 2017, returns to global competition after an injury forced him to withdraw from last year&rsquo;s World Championships in Budapest.
October marked his return to competition, winning the World Cross Country Tour Gold meeting in Atapuerca, and he followed that with victory at the Zevenheuvelenloop 15km road race.
This year, the world half marathon record-holder has competed twice and triumphed twice, winning over 10km in Valencia and at the Ugandan Cross Country Championships. The 23-year-old now looks to Belgrade as an opportunity to bounce back to global glory.
Cheptegei, who recently clocked 26:53 over 10km in Laredo, will be motivated to reclaim the senior title he won in 2019. In fact, should either of the leading Ugandan contenders win, they will join the likes of Kenenisa Bekele, Paul Tergat and Geoffrey Kamworor as a multiple world cross winner.
World 5km record-holder Aregawi will aim to become the first Ethiopian winner of this title since 2011. A few weeks after taking silver in Bathurst last year, Aregawi moved to second on the world all-time 10km list with 26:33. He started his 2024 campaign with a convincing win at the Cross Country Tour Gold meeting in Elgoibar.
Others on the Ethiopian team include Dinkalem Ayele, who won the recent Lisbon Half Marathon; African 10,000m silver medallist Chimdessa Debele, who was 11th in Bathurst; Ethiopian trials winner Boki Diriba, who took U20 bronze in Bathurst last year; and Tadese Worku, the 2019 world U20 cross country silver medallist and 2021 world U20 3000m champion.
On paper, the team certainly appears strong enough to regain the team title they last won in 2017.
After missing out on an individual medal in Bathurst last year, the Kenyan men will be keen to make the podium this time.
World half marathon champion Sawe leads the cross-country powerhouse nation. He is joined on the Kenyan team by world U20 cross-country champion Ishmael Kipkurui, world 5km bronze medallist Nicholas Kipkorir, and rising trio Samwel Chebolei Masai, 2021 world U20 5000m champion Benson Kiplangat and Gideon Kipkertich Rono.
Ranked third in the Cross Country Tour standings, Spain&rsquo;s Thierry Ndikumwenayo is a man to watch out for in Belgrade. He placed ninth in the senior men&rsquo;s race at the 2019 World Cross while representing Burundi. Since then, he has reduced his PBs to 7:25.93 at 3000m and 12:55.47 for 5000m.
The 26-year-old has had two cross-country successes this year, winning at the Spanish Championships at the Cross Country Tour Gold meeting in Albufeira.
Ndikumwenayo is joined on the Spanish team by Aar&oacute;n Las Heras, who was 20th in Bathurst, as well as Fernando Carro and Nassim Hassaous.
Eritrea&rsquo;s Merhawi Mebrahtu is also a contender. The 2022 world U20 5000m silver medallist placed second in Hannut in January, and more recently finished eighth over 10,000m at the African Games.
Compatriot Aron Kifle, who finished fourth and fifth at the 2019 and 2017 World Cross respectively, brings experience to the Eritrean team, which also includes Filmon Kibrom.
Celestin Ndikumana, who placed fourth and sixth over 5000m and 10,000m respectively at the recent African Games, leads the Burundian team. Ndikumana will aim to improve on his 20th-place finish from Bathurst.
The US team features three-time NCAA steeplechase champion Anthony Rotich, Emmanuel Bor, Reid Buchanan, Christian Allen, Anthony Camerieri and Ahmed Muhumed.
Paris-bound Patrick Tiernan, who finished 13th at the 2017 World Cross, leads the Australian team, while the British squad is headed by European U23 cross-country champion Will Barnicoat.
Three nations will be represented at the World Cross for the first time at this year&rsquo;s edition: Afghanistan (Mohammad Karim), Honduras (Iv&aacute;n Zarco) and Montenegro (Željko Dabović).
Michelle Katami for World Athletics

The top three finishers in the senior men’s race from last year’s edition will return for another clash

WXC Belgrade 24 senior men's preview: Uganda’s Kiplimo goes for title defence

Kenyan women have won the past eight senior women&rsquo;s titles and it&rsquo;s difficult to look past the mighty East African nation heading into the World Athletics Cross Country Championships Belgrade 24.
As a measure of their quality, world cross-country champion Beatrice Chebet was beaten into fourth place at the recent Kenyan Cross Country Championships. Chebet may have been doing just enough to ensure her place on the team, but the three women who finished ahead of her will all have medal ambitions in the Serbian capital.
It&rsquo;s rare for Chebet to come away from a major championships empty-handed. As well as winning gold in Bathurst last year, she was also victorious over 5km at the World Road Running Championships in Riga. Meanwhile, on the track in recent years she has earned silver and bronze medals over 5000m at the World Championships, plus gold at the same distance at the Commonwealth Games and African Championships.
Put simply: if there are medals on the line, Chebet will be in the mix.
But compatriot Agnes Ngetich heads to Belgrade full of confidence too. Bronze medallist in Bathurst last year, Ngetich went on to place sixth in the 10,000m at the World Championships in Budapest. She then started 2024 in incredible form, smashing the world 10km record with a stunning run of 28:46 in Valencia, having passed through 5km in 14:13, equalling Chebet&rsquo;s world record for that distance.
More recently, Ngetich won the highly competitive Kenyan Cross Country Championships, winning by three seconds from Emmaculate Anyango, who will also be one to watch in Belgrade.
Anyango has made great strides in recent months. After reducing her 10km PB to 30:01 in Lille in November last year, she chopped more than a minute off that time when finishing second to Ngetich in Valencia in January, clocking 28:57 &ndash; making her the second-fastest woman in history for the distance.
The Kenyan team also features Lilian Kasait Rengeruk and Margaret Chelimo Kipkemboi, both of whom took silver medals &ndash; over 5km and the half marathon respectively &ndash; at the World Road Running Championships last year. Cintia Chepngeno rounds out the team and she&rsquo;ll be looking to make amends for her DNF in Bathurst last year.
It&rsquo;s not inconceivable that Kenya could replicate their perfect 1-2-3-4-5-6 finish from the 2017 World Cross, but if anyone stands to disrupt a Kenyan sweep, then look to the Ethiopian squad.
Girmawit Gebrzihair won Ethiopia&rsquo;s national trial race. The 2018 African U20 cross-country champion, who has a half marathon PB of 1:04:14, will be competing at her first major championships as a senior.
Compatriot Tadelech Bekele, the two-time Amsterdam Marathon champion, last represented Ethiopia back in 2014 at the African Cross Country Championships. She has competed sparingly in recent years, but it's difficult to ignore a 2:21:40 marathon performer.
Others on the Ethiopian team include marathon specialist Sisay Meseret Gola, and teenagers Bertukan Welde and Mebrat Gidey.
Uganda&rsquo;s Rachael Zena Chebet has been the best non-Kenyan/Ethiopian performer at the World Cross in the past decade, having finished fourth in 2019. The 27-year-old&nbsp; won the Ugandan cross-country title by 25 seconds and will be keen to lead her team to another medal, having earned team bronze in 2019.
Karoline Bjerkeli Grovdal has dominated cross-country running in Europe in recent years. After four successive bronze medals at the European Cross, then silver in 2019, the Norwegian has won the past three senior women&rsquo;s titles.
Her last appearance at the World Cross was back in 2010 when she was just 19. But her performances on the track in recent years &ndash; including her eighth-place finish over 5000m at the 2022 World Championships &ndash; shows that she&rsquo;s capable of mixing it with the world&rsquo;s best.
Burundi&rsquo;s Francine Niyomukunzi has performed well on the World Cross Country Tour this year, winning in San Giorgio Su Legnano back in January. She followed that with a national 10km record of 30:42 in Valencia. The 24-year-old looks set to improve on her 74th-place finish from the 2019 World Cross.
Others to look out for include US cross-country champion Weini Kelati, world 10,000m eight-place finisher Jessica Warner-Judd of Great Britain &amp; Northern Ireland, and Anjelina Nadai Lohalith of the Athlete Refugee Team.
Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda have shared the team medals at the past two editions, and this year's race looks likely to go the same way. If any other nation could challenge for a team medal, perhaps look to the USA, Great Britain, South Africa, Canada or Spain.
Jon Mulkeen for World Athletics

It’s difficult to look past Kenya heading into the World Athletics Cross Country Championships Belgrade 24

WXC Belgrade 24 senior women’s preview: defending champion Chebet faces formidable compatriots

The countdown continues to the World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Belgrade, which is scheduled for 30 March 2024 in Friendship Park, at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers. The list of competitors for the 45th edition of the global event is led by none other than defending senior men&rsquo;s champion and world half marathon record-holder Jacob Kiplimo.
The Ugandan, born in November 2000, is a member of the Sebei people, and he grew up in Bukwo on Mount Elgon, living at high altitude.
He made history in 2016 when &ndash; at the age of 15 &ndash; he became Uganda&rsquo;s youngest Olympian, contesting the 5000m at the Rio Games. One year later, on home soil in Kampala, he won the U20 title at the World Cross Country Championships.
In 2020, his first year as a senior, he won the world half marathon title in Gdynia. One year later, he set a world record for that distance, clocking 57:31 in Lisbon &ndash; a mark that still stands today.
A world and Olympic bronze medallist over 10,000m, Kiplimo won the 5000m and 10,000m double at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. He holds the Ugandan 3000m record at 7:26.64, while his PBs of 12:41.73 for 5000m and 26:33.93 for 10,000m rank him in the top 10 on the world all-time lists.
Kiplimo earned his first senior global title when winning the senior men&rsquo;s race at the 2023 World Cross Country Championships in Bathurst. He hopes another gold medal in Belgrade will act as the perfect springboard towards further success at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
&nbsp;
How satisfied are you with your preparations for 2024?
&ldquo;My preparations are going well. I am in Kapchorwa, where I&rsquo;m training with my teammates. There&rsquo;s a group of about 10-12 of us staying together at our new training camp.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
What are your main competitive plans for 2024?
&ldquo;The World Cross Country Championships in Belgrade and the Olympic Games in Paris.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
When you won the world U20 cross-country title at the age of 16, what were your dreams back then, and who helped you achieve your goals?
&ldquo;My main dream at that age was to go to Europe to compete. After that, I wanted to become a champion. The first people who helped me were coaches Alex Malena and Saket Benat when I was 15 years old. Robert Chemonges also helped during that early stage of my career. After that, Giuseppe Giambrone with Federico and Gabriele Rosa gave me the opportunity to grow in Italy. Now Federico and the Rosa management agency are taking care of the next level of my career, helping to develop not only me but also my training group which is very important to me, as well as the facilities at our new training camp in Kapchorwa.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
What goes through your head when things aren't going so well, and how do you turn it around?
&ldquo;When I&rsquo;m struggling with an injury, my head starts to get stressed. So I&rsquo;ll try to seek out advice from other people &ndash; that usually gives me a lot of motivation to get over the injury.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
Who is your biggest rival?
&ldquo;My biggest sporting rival is my compatriot and national team member Joshua Cheptegei.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
When and why did you decide to choose running?
&ldquo;When I was young, I started running at school because it's a tradition in my district. I started running to become a champion.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
How does it feel to be on top of the world in a global sport like athletics? What does your success mean for the young athletes in your country?
&ldquo;I enjoy being a world-class athlete and I'm happy when people talk about me. I like being a role model for young Ugandan athletes, like Stephen Kiprotich (2012 Olympic marathon champion) was for me. It's good for my people and my country.&rdquo;
&nbsp;

Ugandan ace is targeting a fourth senior global title

Defending champion Kiplimo is aiming for the top again in Belgrade

Entry lists for the World Athletics Cross Country Championships Belgrade 24 confirm that 485 athletes from 51 teams will descend on Serbia for the global event on Saturday 30 March.
The entry lists can be downloaded here: <a href="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/document/65fd7fda975276a9a6bb8cc6.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/document/65fd7fda975276a9a6bb8cc6.pdf">Entries by event</a> <a href="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/document/65fd8016975276a9a6bb8cc9.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/document/65fd8016975276a9a6bb8cc9.pdf">Entries by event and country</a>
A total of 245 athletes (138 men, 107 women) are entered for the individual senior races, while 187 athletes (95 men, 92 women) will be in action in the U20 races. In the mixed relay, 12 countries have been entered.
Kenya topped the medal table at the last edition of the World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Bathurst, Australia, in 2023, with a total of six gold medals.
Beatrice Chebet, who went on to win world 5000m bronze on the track and the inaugural world 5km road race title later in the year, was among Kenya&rsquo;s champions in Bathurst and she defends her title in the senior women&rsquo;s race. Her compatriots Agnes Ngetich, the bronze medallist in Bathurst, and Emmaculate Anyango are expected to provide tough opposition.
The entry list also features multiple Olympic and world gold medallist Sifan Hassan, but she has confirmed that she no longer intends to compete.
The winners of the past two senior men&rsquo;s titles &ndash; Jacob Kiplimo and Joshua Cheptegei &ndash; will race, looking to add more medals for Uganda. In fact, the full podium from Bathurst will clash again, as champion Kiplimo and bronze medallist Cheptegei line up along with Ethiopia&rsquo;s silver medallist Berihu Aregawi. Their challengers include Kenya&rsquo;s Sabastian Sawe.
Ethiopia&rsquo;s Lemlem Nibret, who finished fifth in Bathurst, and Abel Bekele, seventh last year, again feature in the U20 races.
Kenya will defend their title in the mixed relay, for which the nation&rsquo;s squad &ndash; including reserves &ndash; features Purity Chepkirui, Mirriam Cherop, Reynold Cheruiyot, Kyumbe Munguti, Virginia Nyambura and Emmanuel Wanyonyi. Hagos Gebrhiwet is entered as part of the Ethiopian squad, while the host nation team features multiple European medallist Elzan Bibic.
The final start lists will be available on Friday 29 March.
The Facts and Figures document for WXC Belgrade 24, edited by Mark Butler, has also been published and is available <a href="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/document/65fd961e30595082b7043bad.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/document/65fd961e30595082b7043bad.pdf">here</a>.
World Athletics
- <a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-cross-country-championships/belgrade24/news/news/course-map-key-info-wxc-belgrade-24" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-cke-saved-href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-cross-country-championships/belgrade24/news/news/course-map-key-info-wxc-belgrade-24">Course map and key info for WXC Belgrade 24</a>

Entry lists for the World Athletics Cross Country Championships Belgrade 24 confirm that 485 athletes from 51 teams will descend on Serbia for the global event on Saturday 30 March

Entry lists for WXC Belgrade 24 published

For Emmaculate Anyango, nothing is impossible as long as you believe in yourself. This is a slogan she will march forward with in a year that holds so many opportunities and possibilities, from the World Athletics Cross Country Championships Belgrade 24 to the Olympic Games in Paris.
While the rest of the world watched and cheered as her Kenyan compatriot Hellen Obiri became a multiple world champion, a two-time Olympic silver medallist and a two-time world major marathon winner, Anyango observed something in her that would change her own running career.
&ldquo;I always like watching Hellen Obiri run. She tends to give it her all in her races,&rdquo; says Anyango. &ldquo;In her cross country races, she often runs one way at the front from start to finish. She always has a great desire to win and believes in herself.
&ldquo;In the past, I always told myself that when I became a good runner, I wanted to be like Hellen. When you get a chance to shine, use it to shine. You need to use your time right now to make history while you can, so you do not regret it later.&rdquo;&nbsp;
When it comes to giving it their all, the same characteristics appear to apply to Anyango, who went for a 30km long run the week after running faster than the world 10km record in Valencia on 14 January. Remarkably, she didn&rsquo;t win the 10km race, as her compatriot Agnes Ngetich won in a world record of 28:46 ahead of Anyango&rsquo;s 28:57.
After such a great run, it would have been no surprise if Anyango decided to take a few days of rest, but the 23-year-old was feeling great, and what would have been an easy run ended up being a 30km effort.&nbsp;
&ldquo;I think the world record run in Valencia helped take my form to its peak,&rdquo; she explains. &ldquo;After that race, I felt that I was getting into another level of fitness.&rdquo;
Her solo run at the World Athletics Cross Country Tour Gold event in Eldoret some three weeks later may have proved her right.
&ldquo;I believe that when I recover a bit too much, it will take long for my body to pick up again,&rdquo; Anyango says.
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/65be6bd46673039a533905d8.JPG" alt="Emmaculate Anyango wins the Sirikwa Classic Cross Country " />
Emmaculate Anyango wins the Sirikwa Classic Cross Country (&copy; Michelle Katami)
</div>
<h2>Early days</h2>
Anyango did not have support from her family when she decided to take up running, because nobody believed she had the talent. But now her family realise that she can make it, and that has made her want to achieve even more.
When she moved to Iten, she found a great community of runners who trained alongside her, offering her much-needed teamwork in long runs and other workouts. However, she still often creates some extra time for herself to train before joining the group later in the day.&nbsp;
&ldquo;At times, I go for my own training run alone at 3am, and then I join the rest of the group for the 9am training,&rdquo; says Anyango.
Having ideal conditions to train well, Anyango swore to herself that she would always do her best to excel and be a breadwinner for her family back in Litein, Kericho.
The athlete has reached the point in her life where a mother and a daughter exchange their roles. Her single mother and her siblings now depend on her, and she is happy about the opportunity to give back.
&ldquo;I am now like a father and a mother to my entire family in Litein, Kericho. That includes my mother and five siblings," says Anyango, who has a brother and four sisters. &ldquo;I am a father to all of them, and I am happy to be like that to them. They are part of what motivates me to work hard in my training.&rdquo;
<h2>Medals in mind</h2>
Like every other top athlete in the world this year, Anyango is eyeing the Paris Olympics. Any medal there would be great for her, but her aim is gold.
But first, she has already booked her ticket to the World Cross Country Championships, which will be held in Belgrade on 30 March. Anyango finished second to Ngetich at the Kenyan cross country trials on 2 March.
&ldquo;Regarding my plans this year, I am really hoping I can get a medal at the World Cross Country Championships and another medal at the Paris Olympics,&rdquo; Anyango says.
&ldquo;My year so far has started very well.&rdquo;
She has been taking lessons from her races, and this explains why she decided to dominate the World Cross Country Tour Gold race in Eldoret, from gun to tape.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Agnes (Ngetich) has been my favourite competitor. I wish she were running with me at the Sirikwa Classic Cross Country. She has been making me push my limits while running,&rdquo; says Anyango.
&ldquo;Sometimes, you may decide to relax in a group waiting to unleash a finishing kick in the end, but then you are beaten by competitors with a better finishing speed. I now go to my races with my own plan. So, at the Sirikwa Classic, I went with my own race plan.&rdquo;
The 2019 African U20 3000m silver medallist has achieved her best performances so far in distances ranging from 1500m to 10,000m on the track, but her main focus going to the Paris Olympics will be on the longer discipline.
&ldquo;My mind is on the 10,000m, although I believe I am also able to do well in the 5000m event,&rdquo; she says.
"I only pray for good health, and I believe I will be able to achieve anything I set my mind to this year."
Justin Lagat for World Athletics

For Emmaculate Anyango, nothing is impossible as long as you believe in yourself

Anyango's time to shine as she targets Belgrade and Paris

Many of the world&rsquo;s best runners &ndash; including defending champions Jacob Kiplimo and Beatrice Chebet &ndash; will head to Serbia for the World Athletics Cross Country Championships Belgrade 24 on 30 March.&nbsp;
Organisers have published a map of the course, which incorporates a loop of 1887m, with additional start and finish straight sections of 270m and 320m, respectively.
The terrain is predominantly grass, with some pedestrian paths which will be covered with dirt and sand. The course will feature two arch bridges as well as a hay maze and classic cross-country hurdle. There will be music stations at both turning points of the loop, and traditional and countryside motifs will be displayed along the route.
<div><img style="max-width: 900px; width: 100%; display: block;" src="https://assets.aws.worldathletics.org/65f9af1dba02aad34b154e44.jpg" alt="WXC Belgrade 24 map" />
&nbsp;
</div>
The event will be held in Friendship Park, one of the largest parks in Belgrade. Overlooking the Sava and Danube rivers, it has bike and jogging paths and a 180-metre-long &lsquo;Peace Alley&rsquo;.
Although it is located the centre of the city, the park is dominated by peace and quiet, making it a popular place for Belgrade residents.&nbsp;
<h2>Key information</h2>
The WXC Belgrade 24 takes place on Saturday 30 March, with the <a href="https://worldathletics.org/competitions/world-athletics-cross-country-championships/belgrade24/timetable" target="_blank" rel="noopener">programme</a> kicking off with the women&rsquo;s U20 race at 11am local time and ending with the senior men&rsquo;s race at 1:30pm.
The senior women&rsquo;s and men&rsquo;s races are each contested over 10km. The women&rsquo;s U20 race is 6km and the men&rsquo;s U20 race is 8km.
In each of these races, teams can feature up to six athletes, with the top four athletes on each team to score. The team with the lowest aggregate of points will be judged the winner. If a team fails to finish with a complete scoring team, the runners will be counted as individuals in the race result and be eligible for individual awards (senior events only).
The mixed relay involves teams of two women and two men each running one loop of the course in the order man-woman-man-woman. Athletes must carry a wristband that will be transferred to the next athlete within the takeover zone.
Prize money will be as follows:&nbsp;
Senior races
Individual Gold: US$30,000&nbsp; Silver: US$15,000&nbsp; Bronze: US$10,000&nbsp; Fourth: US$7000&nbsp; Fifth: US$5000&nbsp; Sixth: US$3000&nbsp;
Team Gold: US$20,000&nbsp; Silver: US$16,000 Bronze: US$12,000&nbsp; Fourth: US$10,000&nbsp; Fifth: US$8000 Sixth: US$4000
Mixed relay (per team) Gold: US$12,000 Silver: US$8000 Bronze: US$6000&nbsp; Fourth: US$4000&nbsp;

Many of the world’s best runners will head to Serbia for the World Athletics Cross Country Championships Belgrade 24 on 30 March

Course map and key info for WXC Belgrade 24

Amela Terzic is a Serbian champion, a record-holder and a big name in the history of Serbian athletics.&nbsp;
She claimed a multitude of medals on the track and in cross country, including European U20 gold and world silver. A lot can be learned from Terzic.&nbsp; 
Why did you decide to do athletics at a time when the sport was not as popular in Serbia?
&ldquo;I started doing athletics on my own in Germany at the H.G.L club with coach Thomas Tanzler. My talent was discovered by a physical education teacher. My mother was also fast in high school, so she decided to enrol me in the track and field club. When I returned to Serbia, I trained in my hometown of Priboj, but due to the bad conditions, I was looking for a good coach for medium tracks, and that's how I came to Novi Pazar with coach Rifat Zilkic.&rdquo; 
When you look at the start of your career, could you have imagined that you would achieve everything you did?
"It was very difficult for me to get used to the new environment, because we moved often and I changed to a total of six different schools. I wasn't accepted everywhere by the girls I was better than, but after some time I became strong and made good friends. At that time, I could not believe that one day I would be at the Olympic Games and achieve top results. My goal was just to train hard and listen to the coach. I had a beautiful childhood.&rdquo; 
What memories do you have?
"Many will read about top athletes, while I had the opportunity to learn from the best and educate myself around the world. It really has no price. Also, during every participation in competitions around the world, I wanted to present the club, the city and the country in the best possible light. From the memories, I carry with me the strongest results.&rdquo; 
Which of your qualities helped you in your career and life?
&ldquo;Of my qualities, the fact that I am responsible, eager to work and positive helped me in my career." 
From your experience, what do you consider most important when playing sports, and what would you say are its advantages?
"The essential things in playing sports are faith in the system, work, patience, having a good atmosphere around you and positive people. To be fulfilled and happy in private life. Beware of injuries and avoid night life.&rdquo; 
What do you think is crucial for women today to start engaging in any type of recreational physical activity?
"The advantage of sports is building a strong personality and acquiring healthy habits as a lifestyle. The woman has become a significant factor in whatever sport we are talking about. Some ladies have left such a mark in their sports disciplines that it is talked about and will be talked about. If we look back at athletics and look at it as it was once believed to be a man's sport, the ladies can certainly thank the Spartan princess Kyniska, who in 396 BC was the first to win the Olympic chariot races." 
You won medals at the European Cross Country Championships. What was the path to those medals like and how do athletes prepare for such an effort, both physically and mentally?&nbsp;
"I was able to combine track and cross-country competitions which is unusual, but it was my long-term work system that led me to the cross-country title. Cross-country is specific because it combines all disciplines in one place. We carefully chose the places that suited us for training in the winter period and we never changed what led us to the first medal. While many decided on one season and rested, I often ran summer and winter without resting. Mentally, I had no problems because I understood it as a job and, compared to others, I was ready for all weather conditions and without rest for work. I'm just the kind of girl who doesn't shy away from work. My clubmates often made sacrifices for me in order to bring a medal in terms of training and cheered me on constantly so that I would be faster and faster in training.&rdquo; 
We know that physical activity has many health benefits and is necessary for a healthier and better life. What do you think is the best motivation for children to get active?
"The best motivation for children is socialising. Sport for children is an educational social activity through which they acquire knowledge about healthy nutrition, the usefulness of exercise, respect for their own and other people's time, expand their thinking by meeting many friends, learn discipline, teamwork, the ability to overcome problems, strengthen self-confidence, perseverance and character.&rdquo; 
You are a mother of three children. What are you teaching your children? Is sport one of the important life lessons and paths to follow and in what way?
"I want to teach my children to play sports in the younger categories in order to build a strong personality and enjoy what they do. I will not force them to play sports. Because for me it is primarily important that they have a happy childhood like mine. I don't want my children to be under a lot of pressure". 
What are your professional goals for this year, and what are you currently working on?
"My goals are to primarily be there for my children, because they need me as a mother. I follow the performances of our athletes, who fill me with good results. I advise younger club friends from whom I have high expectations as my heirs.&rdquo;

Amela Terzic is a Serbian champion, a record-holder and a big name in the history of Serbian athletics

All-female Athlete Refugee Team makes history in Belgrade

Chebet retains senior women's title to lead Kenyan top five in Belgrade

Kiplimo takes back-to-back senior men's gold in Belgrade

Kenya runs away with mixed relay gold in Belgrade

Kibathi outsprints Sime to secure U20 title in Belgrade