TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA, January 10 — The biggest deciding factor for the World Cross Country Championships U20 races would not be the warm-ish, humid Florida weather, or the creative obstacles course designers constructed at Apalachee Regional Park, but rather the denial of visas to 14 members of the Ethiopian squads.
The visa issues affected the nation’s Junior teams far more than its Senior teams, utterly decimating their men (6 rejections) and cutting their women by more than half (4 rejections). The result was that Ethiopia’s men were denied the U20 podium for the first time since 1982 while the women’s chances for a 6th straight title were crushed.
Obviously, the door was thus opened for other squads. The Ugandan women beat Kenya to win their first World XC U20 title of any kind. In the Junior Men’s race, the favored Kenyan squad was able to record a 1-2-3-4 sweep for the sixth time (last in 2010), while Team USA took advantage to claim a bronze — matching its 2023 finish and making just its second trip to the podium since 1982.
One of the three Ethiopian women who would not be denied, however, was defending champ Marta Alemayo. Twenty-two months after triumphing as a 15-year-old in Belgrade — then the youngest-ever World U20 XC champ — she strode to the line for the second race of the day (following the team relay) a picture of steely resolve.
She looked in control from the outset, with teammates Wosane Asefa and Yenenesh Skimket flanking her in the early going. Those three, plus three Ugandans and two Kenyans, made up the lead pack after the first of three 2K loops (6:15), with U.S. prep Blair Bartlett getting out fast and running boldly in the top 8 for the first kilo.
Alemayo then led a bit of a breakaway, as she, Asefa and Kenya’s Cynthia Chepkurui pulled 4 seconds ahead. Thereafter the champ built margins of 7, then 22 seconds at the next two split points before cruising in with 18:52 and her huge final margin of 26 seconds. Asefa held on for 2nd (19:18) ahead of Cherop’s huge kick into the bronze medal position (19:19).
Tied through the four scoring finishers at 29 points, Uganda’s #5 Nancy Chepkurui broke the tie as she edged Kenya’s #5 Caren Chepngeno. Japan was 3rd with 87 and the first non-African finisher (Yui Onotora in 14th), while the U.S. took 4th at 108 behind Bartlett’s 16th-place-finish.
Alemayo’s predecessors as 2-time U20 champs include world-record setters Faith Kipyegon, Genzebe Dibaba and Letesenbet Gidey. “I am very happy with my second consecutive gold medal and to be joined by Wosane on the podium,” said Alemayo. “My next plan is to run indoors and hope to compete at the World Indoor Championships in March.”
In the U20 men’s race, only Ayele Sewnet was present to represent Ethiopia (finishing 12th). But it’s unlikely the nation would have been able to stop their arch-rivals. As it was, Kenya not only swept the podium, but scored a “perfect 10” (top 4 places).
This race would be no runaway individually, however. Twenty-two runners were within 3 seconds of the lead at 2K (5:49) and 19 still that close at 3K (8:56). European Junior Champ Willem Renders held the slightest of margins at each juncture, with Kenya’s and Uganda’s full squads close in tow.
The Kenyans began ever-so-steadily taking control after that, though Ugandan World U20 Mountain Running medalist Abraham Cherotich fronted a pack of 11 at 5K (14:54).
The seventh kilo was when the lead Kenyan trio — Andrew Alamisi, Frankline Kibet and Emmanuel Kiprono — made their break, with Trials winner Kiprono looking in control.
In the final K, however, Kiprono and Kibet gapped Alamisi and after they turned into the final 200, Kibet shifted gears in stunning fashion and motored past his teammate.
Kiprono followed 2 seconds later, joining his teammate in celebration, then Alamisi (23:28) and Andrew Kiptoo (23:42) completed the sweep. All 6 Kenyans finished in the top 10, with Uganda scoring 5-7-9-10 for its 2nd-ever runner-up finish.
“I am very happy with my victory and the team gold,” Kibet said. “We trained together, so it is good to celebrate as a team. The course was tough, but I was determined and trained well, primarily focused on speed.”
Cal Poly frosh Tyler Daillak led Team USA’s effort in 16th, despite losing a shoe on the second of 4 loops, followed by Herriman, Utah, prep Jackson Spencer (18th) — the NXN and Brooks national XC champ. U.S. champ Aidan Torres (Texas) was 22nd in the team’s 4th spot behind Daniel Skandera (19th), a home-schooled Alabama prep.
JUNIOR MEN
Teams: 1. Kenya 10; 2. Uganda 31; 3. United States 75; 4. Australia 103; 5. Great Britain 111; 6. Japan 113; 7. Spain 136; 8. Canada 148; 9. New Zealand 205; 10. South Africa 206; 11. China 218.
Individuals (8K): 1. Frankline Kibet (Ken) 23:18; 2. Emmanuel Kiprono (Ken) 23:20; 3. Andrew Alamisi (Ken) 23:28; 4. Andrew Alamisi (Ken) 23:42; 5. Abraham Cherotich (Uga) 23:47; 6. Brian Kandie (Ken) 23:49; 7. Daniel Kiprotich Cheloigoi (Uga) 23:51; 8. Edwin Elkana (Ken) 24:00; 9. Solomon Andiema (Uga) 24:01;
10. Dan Kipyeko (Uga) 24:02; 11. Willem Renders (Bel) 24:13; 12. Ayele Sewnet (Eth) 24:14; 13. Alois Abraham (Fra) 24:23; 14. Jeremiah Kwemoi (Uga) 24:24; 15. Haruki Niizuma (Jpn) 24:31; 16. Tyler Daillak (US) 24:46; 17. Sebastian Lörstad (Swe) 24:56;
18. Jackson Spencer (US) 25:00; 19. Daniel Skandera (US) 25:02; 20. Michael Clark (GB) 25:13;… 22. Aidan Torres (US) 25:20;… 30. Salvador Wirth (US) 25:39;… 53. Dylan Maloney (US) 27:03. (73 started, 69 finished)
JUNIOR WOMEN
Teams: 1. Uganda 29; 2. Kenya 29; 3. Japan 87; 4. United States 108; 5. Australia 109; 6. Canada 131; 7. China 137; 8. Spain 145; 9. South Africa 163; 10. New Zealand 214.
Individuals (6K): 1. Marta Alemayo (Eth) 18:52; 2. Wosane Asefa (Eth) 19:18; 3. Charity Cherop (Uga) 19:19; 4. Cynthia Chepkurui (Ken) 19:22; 5. Yenenesh Shmekt (Eth) 19:35; 6. Joan Chepkurui (Ken) 19:43; 7. Bentalin Yeko (Uga) 19:50; 8. Mercy Mageso (Ken) 19:52; 9. Felista Chekwemoi (Uga) 19:53;
10. Peace Chebet (Uga) 19:54; 11. Miriam Kibet (Ken) 20:00; 12. Nancy Chepkwurui (Uga) 20:12; 13. Lonah Cherono (Ken) 20:20; 14. Yui Onotora (Jpn) 20:25; 15. Caren Chepngeno (Ken) 20:35; 16. Blair Bartlett (US) 20:36; 17. Jinhua Hu (Chn) 20:38;
18. Adrianna Buitelaar (Can) 20:45; 19. Isabella Valinoti (Aus) 20:50; 20. Daniela Scheffler (US) 20:53;… 33. Abby Sewell (US) 21:23;… 39. Caroline Barton (US) 21:35;… 53. Norah Hushagen (US) 22:33;… 58. Avery Marasco-Johnson (US) 23:01. (66 started, 65 finished)
