IAAF World XC previews - what more could we want?
With extensive previews on the men’s, women’s and junior races at Saturday’s World Cross Country Championships, there is nothing more to add. The IAAF’s Len Johnson and David Powell have the inside line and leave no stone unturned as they look forward to the festival of XC racing in prospect.
It’s also true to say that both events have no clear-cut favourites. With last year’s winners Kenenisa Bekele and Tirunesh Diababa both absent the doors are wide open for a new king and queen – even if it is on loan until next year, if they both return. Whatever the outcome on Saturday afternoon you can bet that the racing will be fast, furious, hot and intense:
Women’s senior and junior events
How refreshing to come to a major championship without a strong presumption as to who the winner will be. That’s the position as we arrive in Amman for the 37th IAAF World Cross Country Championships on Saturday 28 March. Four of the six women who have won the senior long course race since 2000 are still active at the highest levels of the sport, Paula Radcliffe (2001-02), Benita Johnson (2004), Tirunesh Dibaba (2005-06 and 2008) and Lornah Kiplagat (2007) but not one is running in Amman.
Will young-pretender Masai steal the crown?
Men’s senior and junior events
There will be a refreshing change in theme to the senior men’s race at the 37th IAAF World Cross Country Championships on the Bisharat Golf Course in Amman, Jordan, on Saturday (28 March). For the first time since 2001, Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele will not be the centre of attention. Either Eritrea’s Zersenay Tadese will win or there will be a new name on the roll of honour.
2006 junior champ Ndiwa is our tip for honours
