Joshua Cheptegei, the 25-year-old Ugandan runner, claimed his third consecutive World Cross Country title with an impressive victory over 10 kilometers in a time of 28 minutes and 18 seconds. Cheptegei surged ahead in the final kilometer, leaving Ethiopia’s Berihu Aregawi 18 seconds behind in second place, marking Aregawi’s third consecutive runner-up finish. Kenya’s Daniel Ebenyo completed the podium in third, with a time of 28:45.
Cheptegei became only the fourth man in history to win three World Cross Country titles in a row, following in the footsteps of Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele (2002-2006) and Kenya’s Paul Tergat (1995-1999) and John Ngugi (1986-1989). “To win three times, I’m so happy about it,” Cheptegei said. “I think it’s about the consistency in your training. Another thing is about believing in yourself.”
While Cheptegei’s victory was a significant achievement, it was also a challenging one, especially considering his recent marathon achievements. He was the runner-up in last year’s London Marathon (2:03:37) and went on to win the Chicago Marathon in October 2024 with a time of 2:02:23. Cheptegei admitted that this year’s race was the hardest: “Today was the hardest one.”
In the women’s race, Kenya’s Agnes Ngetich triumphed with a commanding victory, clocking 31:28 to maintain Kenya’s dominance in the event, securing a 10th consecutive women’s cross-country title for the country. Ngetich, the world 10km record holder, led from the start and finished 42 seconds ahead of Uganda’s Joy Cheptoyek, with Ethiopia’s Senayet Getachew taking third place in 32:13.
Ngetich’s dominance was clear as she built an early lead and extended it over the course of the race, which included challenging sand, water, and mud zones, as well as fallen log barriers. This marked her first cross-country competition since her victory in the Sirikwa Classic in February 2024. Despite Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet opting out for a maternity break, Ngetich’s performance ensured Kenya’s continued success in the event.
The team competitions saw Ethiopia claim the top spots in both the men’s and women’s categories, with Kenya finishing second and Uganda in third.
As for the men’s event, Cheptegei’s victory capped an exciting finish, with a tight contest through the middle stages. He was two seconds behind Aregawi at the halfway point, but his late surge allowed him to pull ahead in the final kilometer. Cheptegei’s victory marked a strong demonstration of endurance and skill as he looks ahead to potential marathon preparations, signaling his shift in focus for the coming years.
This event highlights the continued success and intense competition in the world of cross-country athletics, with both veterans like Cheptegei and rising stars like Ngetich setting high standards for the sport.
