277: 2023 World Cross Country Championships Bathurst

Brad puts his biggest week on the comeback trail and gets super inspired by the weekend.

The eve of the World Cross Country Championships held the Golden Ticket Races, with the first seven finishers of the 6km race given the opportunity to race in the World Champion Race, Sarah Klein and Andre Waring taking top honours. Andre was subsequently placed in the Australia team with Matt Ramsden withdrawing due to injury.

On a mostly hot Saturday afternoon over a tough 2km course set on Mount Panorama/Wahluu, Bathurst the World Cross Country Championships returned after two years of delays. The day opened with the Mixed 4x2km Relay, where the highly-fancied Australian team of Oli Hoare, Jess Hull, Stewy McSweyn and Abby Caldwell took the bronze medal Kenya and Ethiopia took Gold and Silver respectively.

The U20 Women race saw a race of attrition as the hot weather and 6k course took a toll on the competitors with three Australians withdrawing from the race. Aspen Anderson was the top Australian, while the race was won by Senayet Getachew of Ethiopia.

U20 Men World Athletics Report

Open Women saw Leanne Pompeani run off the lead pack, before Ellie Pashley ascended through the pack to finish as first Australia. Letesenbet Gidey stumbled and fell metres from the finish line after leading in the final stages, subsequently disqualified after receiving assistance to get back up as Beatrice Chebet of Kenya outkicked her to be crowned the new champion. Tsigie Gebreselama of Ethiopia was second, with Agnes Ngetich of Kenya third.

Ellie Pashley 19th

Leanne Pompeani 22nd

Rose Davies 23rd

Caitlin Adams 28th

Izzy Batt-Doyle 29th

Georgia Hansen 44th (replacing Holly Campbell)

Women’s Championship World Athletics Report

Storm clouds formed upon the Open Men’s 10km, with lightning on the horizon setting the backdrop to a dramatic close to the day. Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda took the championship, with Berihu Aregawi of Ethiopia in second and defending champion Joshua Cheptegei taking the bronze medal. Ky Robinson ran a smart race to finish as first Australian, while Australia placed fourth in the team results:

Ky Robinson 23rd

Jack Rayner 29th

Brett Robinson 31st

Andy Buchanan 33rd

Rorey Hunter 40th

Andre Waring 51st  (replacing Matt Ramsden)

Men’s Championship World Athletics Report

Peter Bol’s provisional suspension has been lifted, after his ‘B’ sample was inconsistent with his ‘A’ sample, pending ongoing investigation.

Catriona Bisset opens her season with a 2:02.03 Indoor Track Meet in Lievin, France. Lamecha Girma broke a long standing Indoor World Record 3000m in 7:23.81, previously set by Daniel Komen in 1998.

Hellen Obiri won the RAK Half Marathon in the UAE over Brigid Kosgei in 1:05:05.

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Opening and Closing Music is Undercover of my Skin by Benny Walker. www.bennywalkermusic.com

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