This Saturday(March 30)- after a year off, the IAAF World Cross Country Championships return. This year, in Aarhus, Denmark. Meet organizers have promised a return to, "real cross country", with a demanding course with lots of hills, undulations, mud, sand and water!
Years ago, the "World Cross", as it was referred to was annually the deepest and most competitive distance running race in the world each year. Everyone from the top-milers/1500m runners to marathoners would toe the line. These days, in the age of specialization - it's become more of a specialists game. Still - it is arguably the deepest and most competitive running race that will be contested this year - deeper than an Olympic Games or World Championships 5000/10000m final. Deeper than any of the World Marathon Majors races (Boston, London etc . .), deeper than any road 10K. Main reason - countries I believe can enter up to 7 runners per country - 4 to score and 3 "back ups"
Since the early 1980's the East African countries, Kenya and Ethiopia in particular, have DOMINATED this race. So much so, that some countries don't even bother sending teams any more. And unfortunately this has been the case with the Aarhus event this year - several European countries, who are right next door are sending no teams! And star distance runners who are well known on the Pro/Elite circuit, seem to avoid the race, because they know that more then a few completely unknown Kenyan or Ethiopian runners, will be crushing them!
They take this VERY seriously in Kenya & Ethiopia - perhaps more important to them, than the Olympic Games!
Some links were you will find more info:
https://www.letsrun.com/archive/2019/03/28/
http://athletics.ca/...untry-championships/
There should be links on both pages that my understanding you should be able to get to a free Live Stream. I know that in Canada, this will be the case, as CBC will pick up the Main IAAF feed for the meet and stream it in Canada (probably geo-restricted). I've been in communication with Tim Hutchings who will be hosting the broadcast - and he's super pumped about the races.
Action get's underway Saturday morning at 5:45AM (EDT)
Who else will be watching?
Steve Fleck @stevefleck | Blog
Years ago, the "World Cross", as it was referred to was annually the deepest and most competitive distance running race in the world each year. Everyone from the top-milers/1500m runners to marathoners would toe the line. These days, in the age of specialization - it's become more of a specialists game. Still - it is arguably the deepest and most competitive running race that will be contested this year - deeper than an Olympic Games or World Championships 5000/10000m final. Deeper than any of the World Marathon Majors races (Boston, London etc . .), deeper than any road 10K. Main reason - countries I believe can enter up to 7 runners per country - 4 to score and 3 "back ups"
Since the early 1980's the East African countries, Kenya and Ethiopia in particular, have DOMINATED this race. So much so, that some countries don't even bother sending teams any more. And unfortunately this has been the case with the Aarhus event this year - several European countries, who are right next door are sending no teams! And star distance runners who are well known on the Pro/Elite circuit, seem to avoid the race, because they know that more then a few completely unknown Kenyan or Ethiopian runners, will be crushing them!
They take this VERY seriously in Kenya & Ethiopia - perhaps more important to them, than the Olympic Games!
Some links were you will find more info:
https://www.letsrun.com/archive/2019/03/28/
http://athletics.ca/...untry-championships/
There should be links on both pages that my understanding you should be able to get to a free Live Stream. I know that in Canada, this will be the case, as CBC will pick up the Main IAAF feed for the meet and stream it in Canada (probably geo-restricted). I've been in communication with Tim Hutchings who will be hosting the broadcast - and he's super pumped about the races.
Action get's underway Saturday morning at 5:45AM (EDT)
Who else will be watching?
Steve Fleck @stevefleck | Blog