Can Moh Ahmed make Canadian history at World XC Championships?
In 45 editions of the championships, no Canadian has ever medalled in the senior men's race
Graham Baird Photography
The 2026 World Cross-Country Championships are set for Saturday at Tallahassee, Fla.’s Apalachee Regional Park, returning to the U.S. for the first time in more than three decades. Canada’s Moh Ahmed, who has returned to the cross-country scene for the first time in 12 years, is positioned to make history by becoming the first Canadian ever to reach the senior men’s podium.
Ahmed, 32, made a surprise return to the cross-country scene this year, appearing at the 2025 Canadian championships (ACXC) in London, Ont., for the first time in 13 years. He took a dominant win by a 15-second margin, earning a spot at his first World XC Championships since 2013. At those 2013 championships, which took place in Bydgoszcz, Poland, 21-year-old Ahmed placed an impressive 22nd and was the top Canadian.
The first edition of the World (formerly IAAF) Cross-Country Championships took place in 1973, and in the 45 championships since, no Canadian has ever earned a medal in the senior men’s race. In the five editions since 2015, all senior men’s medallists represented Kenya, Ethiopia or Uganda.
Can Kiplimo defend his title?
After back-to-back wins, Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo, fresh off his Chicago Marathon win, is chasing his third straight World XC crown. Ethiopia’s Berihu Aregawi, the 2023 and 2024 world XC runner-up and Paris Olympic 10,000m silver medallist, is undoubtedly very hungry to finally grab a win. Other top contenders are Kenya’s 2025 national cross-country champion Daniel Ebenyo and world 10,000m gold medallist and 5,000m bronze medallist Jimmy Gressier of France.
Tokyo. Photo: Kevin Morris
Who will replace Chebet atop the podium?
In Beatrice Chebet‘s absence, there will be a new senior women’s champion for the first time since 2023. Agnes Ngetich of Kenya comes in as the most likely contender for the win, as the 2023 bronze medallist, 2024 fourth-place finisher and 10K world record holder (2024). Compatriot Maurine Chebor, the 2025 Kenyan XC champion, is also in the running, alongside Ugandan national XC champion Joy Cheptoyek.
Four hundred and eighty-five athletes (including reserves) from 52 nations are entered in the competition; the complete entry list can be found here.
The last edition of the event took place in Belgrade, Serbia, in 2024.
Schedule and how to watch
(All times in ET.)
9:45 a.m. – mixed relay
10:20 a.m. – U20 women
10:55 a.m. – U20 men
11:35 a.m. – senior women
12:20 a.m. – senior men
The 2026 World Cross-Country Championships can be streamed in Canada on CBC.ca or CBC Gem.
