TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA, January 10 — For the third consecutive World Cross Country Championships, Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo emerged as the champion. He completed the challenging 10K course at Tallahassee’s Apalachee Regional Park in 28:18, delivering arguably the most impressive of his three victories and demonstrating that he is in a class of his own in cross country.
Kiplimo became only the fourth man to win at least three straight World XC titles, joining legends John Ngugi (1986–1989), Paul Tergat (1995–1999), and Kenenisa Bekele (2002–2006, both long and short courses).
After a disappointing 8th-place finish in the 10K at the 2024 Olympics, Kiplimo focused exclusively on road racing in ’25. This transition proved extremely successful, as he set a half-marathon World Record of 56:42 and posted two strong marathon performances: 2:03:37 for 2nd place in London and 2:02:23 to win Chicago. However, his marathon focus led some to question whether his cross country form would suffer. Not since Carlos Lopes in 1984–’85 had an elite marathoner won the World XC title.
If Kiplimo showed any vulnerability, the leading challenger was Ethiopia’s Berihu Aregawi. With track personal bests of 7:21, 12:40, and 26:31, and as the reigning Olympic silver medalist at 10K, Aregawi had finished 2nd to Kiplimo in both 2023 and 2024.
At the start, the early leader was not Kiplimo or Aregawi, but American Wesley Kiptoo. Known for his fast starts, Kiptoo built a lead of up to 30 meters over the first 2K lap (5:39), with a large pack content to let him run in front.
Kiptoo’s lead disappeared by 3K (8:39), and he was soon swallowed by the pack. Coming out of Alligator Alley — a series of four logs topped with wooden gators, Kiplimo surged for the first time, quickly moving from mid-pack into the lead. However, he did not push further at that stage and allowed Tadese Worku to open a 20-meter lead early in lap 3 as the chase pack began to thin.
Kiplimo surged back to the front around 5½K and maintained the lead from that point on. The pack dwindled to six, then four, with the remaining contenders being Aregawi, ’23 World Championships 10K silver medalist Daniel Ebenyo of Kenya, and 19-year-old Ethiopian Biniam Mehary. Another small surge by Kiplimo at 7½K caused Mehary to lose contact, leaving a pack of three at the bell.
With 2K to go, Kiplimo made a decisive move and glided away from Aregawi and Ebenyo. After averaging 2:52 per kilometer for the first 8K, Kiplimo covered the 9th kilometer in an incredible 2:38. Aregawi also accelerated, visibly straining as he pulled away from Ebenyo, but Kiplimo smoothly extended his lead. Kiplimo’s final 2K, completed in a stunning 5:22 (a 26:50 10K pace), included celebrations and blowing kisses to the crowd over the last 300 meters. Aregawi finished strongly as well but was 18 seconds behind (28:36), earning his third consecutive silver medal. Despite only breaking away in the final 2K, Kiplimo’s winning margin was the largest in the past 20 years.
In the team competition, the African trio of Ethiopia (30 points), Kenya (34), and Uganda (39) were well clear of other nations. This marked Ethiopia’s first sweep of both senior races since 2015.
With Rocky Hansen a late scratch due to injury, the U.S. men fielded only five runners. Parker Wolfe finished a commendable 12th (29:28) in his first global championships, trailing only France’s Yann Schrub (11th in 29:22) among non-African-born runners. Kiptoo held on well after his fast start to finish 14th (29:34), just ahead of a fast-closing Jimmy Gressier. With Graham Blanks also finishing in the top 20 (19th), the U.S. men matched the U.S. women with a 4th-place finish — the best combined result for the U.S. since 2013.
WORLD XC MEN’S RESULTS
Teams
1. Ethiopia 30; 2. Kenya 34; 3. Uganda 39; 4. United States 81; 5. France 92; 6. Tanzania 116; 7. Spain 116; 8. Australia 119; 9. South Africa 138; 10. Canada 204; 11. Great Britain 229; 12. Japan 242; 13. New Zealand 274; 14. Mexico 314; 15. China 330.
Individuals (10K)
1. Jacob Kiplimo (Uga) 28:18; 2. Berihu Aregawi (Eth) 28:36; 3. Daniel Simiyu (Ken) 28:45; 4. Tadese Worku (Eth) 28:49; 5. Ishmael Kipkurui (Ken) 28:53; 6. Biniam Mehary (Eth) 29:03; 7. Dolphine Chelimo (Uga) 29:07; 8. Thierry Ndikumwenayo (Spa) 29:16; 9. Denis Kemboi (Ken) 29:18; 10. Kenneth Kiprop (Uga) 29:20;
11. Yann Schrub (Fra) 29:22; 12. Parker Wolfe (US) 29:28; 13. Adriaan Wildschutt (SA) 29:32; 14. Wesley Kiptoo (US) 29:34; 15. Jimmy Gressier (Fra) 29:36; 16. Brian Fay (Ire) 29:37; 17. Kevin Chesang (Ken) 29:39; 18. Nibret Kinde (Eth) 29:40; 19. Graham Blanks (US) 29:41; 20. Gabriel Gerald Geay (Tan) 29:45;
21. Emmanuel Kibet (Uga) 29:46; 22. Abdessamad Oukhelfen (Spa) 29:49; 23. Emanuel Dinday (Tan) 29:54; 24. Ky Robinson (Aus) 29:56; 25. Edward Marks (Aus) 29:58; 26. David Mullarkey (GB) 30:00; 27. Shadrack Koech (Ken) 30:01; 28. Simon Sundström (Swe) 30:01; 29. Benjamin Ratsim (Tan) 30:07; 30. Aaron Las_Heras (Spa) 30:12;
31. Morgan McDonald (Aus) 30:12; 32. Etienne Daguinos (Fra) 30:13; 33. Sanele Masondo (SA) 30:13; 34. Valentin Gondouin (Fra) 30:14; 35. Bereket Nega (Eth) 30:19; 36. Nico Young (US) 30:19; 37. Fabien Palcau (Fra) 30:25; 38. Evan Burke (Can) 30:31; 39. Isaac Heyne (Aus) 30:38; 40. Gulveer Singh (Ind) 30:39;
41. Deogracius Musobo (Uga) 30:41; 42. Musawenkosi Mnisi (SA) 30:45; 43. Robert Koech (Ken) 30:49; 44. Inyasi Sulle (Tan) 30:50; 45. Seth O’Donnell (Aus) 30:53; 46. Ahmed Muhumed (US) 30:53; 47. Toby Gualter (NZ) 30:54; 48. Xavier Perras-Phaneuf (Can) 31:05; 49. Godwin Katakura (Zim) 31:09; 50. Bennet Seloy (SA) 31:12. (122 started, 114 finished)
