Cross country running is a sport in which teams and individuals run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain such as dirt or grass. The course, typically 3–12 kilometres (1.9–7.5 mi) long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road and minor obstacles. It is both an individual and a team sport; runners are judged on individual times and teams by a points-scoring method. Both men and women of all ages compete in cross country, which usually takes place during autumn and winter, and can include weather conditions of rain, sleet, snow or hail, and a wide range of temperatures.
The 10,000 metres or the 10,000-metre run is a common long-distance track running event. The event is part of the athletics programme at the Olympic Games and the World Athletics Championships, and is common at championship-level events. The race consists of 25 laps around an Olympic-sized track. It is less commonly held at track and field meetings due to its duration. The 10,000-metre track race is usually distinguished from its road running counterpart, the 10K run, by referring to the distance in metres rather than kilometres.
The 5000 metres or 5000-metre run is a common long-distance running event in track and field, approximately equivalent to 3 miles 188 yards or 16,404 feet 2 inches. It is one of the track events in the Olympic Games and the World Championships in Athletics, run over 12+1⁄2 laps of a standard track. The same distance in road running is called a 5K run; referring to the distance in metres rather than kilometres serves to disambiguate the two events. The 5000 m has been present on the Olympic programme since 1912 for men and since 1996 for women. Prior to 1996, women had competed in an Olympic 3000 metres race since 1984. The 5000 m has been held at each of the World Championships in Athletics in men's competition and since 1995 in women's.
Shitaye Eshete Habtegebrel is an Ethiopian-born long-distance runner who competes internationally for Bahrain.
Belaynesh Oljira Jemama is an Ethiopian long-distance runner who competes mainly in 10K and half marathon races. She represented her country at the 2012 Summer Olympics, the 2013 World Championships and the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in 2011 and 2013.
Helah Kiprop Jelagat is a Kenyan professional long-distance runner who competes in the half marathon and marathon. Her personal bests for the events are 1:07:39 minutes and 2:21:27 hours, respectively.
Mosinet Geremew is an Ethiopian middle-distance and long-distance runner.
Aron Kifle Teklu is an Eritrean long-distance runner. He is the bronze medallist from the 2018 World Half Marathon Championships in Valencia. Aron is also the silver medallist in the 10000m from both the 2016 World U20 Championships and the 2019 All-African Games.
Selemon Barega Shirtaga is an Ethiopian long-distance runner. He won the gold medal in the 10,000 metres at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, silver for the 5,000 metres at the 2019 World Championships in Doha and bronze in the 10,000 metres at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest. Barega is a two-time 3,000 metres World Indoor Championship medallist, taking silver in 2018, and a gold in 2022.
Andreu Blanes Reig is a Spanish orienteering competitor and long-distance runner. He was born in Onil. He won a silver medal in sprint at the 2011 Junior World Orienteering Championships, and placed fourth in the relay. He competed at the 2018 World Orienteering Championships in Latvia, where he placed seventh in the sprint final. He has competed in the 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 World Orienteering Championships. His best World Championship result before 2018 was a seventh place in the sprint at the 2015 World Orienteering Championships.
Nibret Melak Bogale is an Ethiopian long-distance runner.
Addisu Yihune is an Ethiopian long-distance runner. He notably won the 5000 metres at the 2022 World Athletics U20 Championships. He also won the 2022 Cross de San Sebastián and Campaccio cross-country races.
The Senior men's race at the 2023 World Athletics Cross Country Championships was held at Bathurst, Australia, on February 18, 2023. Jacob Kiplimo from Uganda won the gold medal by 9 seconds over Ethiopian Berihu Aregawi, while Joshua Cheptegei finished third.
Chimdessa Debele is an Ethiopian long-distance runner.
The Senior women's race at the 2023 World Athletics Cross Country Championships was held at the Bathurst in Australia, on February 18, 2023. Beatrice Chebet from Kenya won the gold medal by 8 seconds over Ethiopian Tsigie Gebreselama, while Agnes Jebet Ngetich finished third.
The U20 men's race at the 2023 World Athletics Cross Country Championships was held at the Bathurst in Australia, on February 18, 2023. Ishmael Kipkurui from Kenya won the gold medal by 1 second over Kenyan Reynold Kipkorir Cheruiyot, while Boki Diriba finished third.
Habtom Samuel is an Eritrean long-distance runner. He won a bronze medal in the 3000 metres at the 2021 World Athletics U20 Championships and in the 5000 metres at the 2022 World Athletics U20 Championships. He placed 17th in both the 10,000 metres at the 2022 World Athletics Championships and the senior race at the 2023 World Athletics Cross Country Championships.
Senayet Getachew is an Ethiopian track and field and cross-country runner. She won gold medals at the 2023 World Athletics Cross Country Championships in the U20 women's individual race and for Ethiopia in the junior team race. In January 2024, she set a new world U20 5000 metres indoor record.
Pamela Kosgei is a Kenyan track and field and cross-country athlete. In 2023, she became the Africa Under-20 champion, and the Kenyan senior national champion, at the 3000m Steeplechase.
Beyenu Degefa Begna is an Ethiopian middle-distance runner. She is the 2016 World Junior Champion in the 3000 metres and her time still stands as the championship record in that event.
