In the recent World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Bathurst, Australia, Kiplimo emerged victorious, with Cheptegei securing both individual and team bronze medals. This sets the stage for an exciting rematch at the upcoming championships in Belgrade.

Kiplimo and Cheptegei will once again compete against each other, as well as other top names in the sport such as Berihu Aregawi of Ethiopia and Sabastian Sawe of Kenya. The course in Belgrade offers a much flatter terrain compared to previous events, providing a unique challenge for the runners.

Despite this new challenge, Cheptegei has already showcased impressive form with a fast 10km run in Spain. He remains a strong contender for a medal in Belgrade and is eager to add to his collection of individual honors before the Paris Olympics.

The race will take place at Friendship Park in Belgrade, featuring a loop of 1887m and start and finish straights of 270m and 320m respectively. The course includes unique features such as arch bridges, a hay maze, and traditional cross country hurdles, with music stations marking the turning points on the loop.

The event is scheduled to start with the women’s U20 race at 11am (CET), followed by the senior men’s race at 1:30pm. Viewers around the world can catch the action via livestream on the World Athletics YouTube channel or World Athletics Inside Track, with some local broadcasters also providing coverage. Specific start times for different regions include 1pm in Kenya, Ethiopia, and Uganda; 6am in New York; 3am in Los Angeles; 7pm in Tokyo; and 9pm in Sydney.