Coffee with Larry, March 30, 2024, The World Cross Country in Belgrade, Serbia, some thoughts

This is my daily chat with #RunBlogRun viewers and track fans on track & field!

This is my daily chat with #RunBlogRun viewers and track fans on all news on track & field!

#CoffeewithLarry, Episode 843, January 29, 2026, The Dubai Marathon comes to Dubai for its 25th edition!

Millrose Weekend Returns with Nuguse, Hocker, Grant and Kessler

2026 Winter Middle Distance Training (800m-5,000m), Sunday January 31, 2026, Week 4, Day 6, a day at the Races!

This is Saturday, March 30, 2024.

This is Coffee with Larry, your daily podcast on all things track and field.

Coffee With Larry began in June 2022 on a bit of a lark, and we are glad that so many continue to follow it and pass it on to friends.

Jambar is the offiical partner of #CoffeeWithLarry, www.jambar.com, CODE Larry15 !

#CoffeewithLarry is sponsored by #JAMBAR, the Original Organic Artisan Sports Energy Bar. JAMBAR has 34 grams of carbs and 10 grams of protein and is sweetened with maple syrup. Made in small batches with organic ingredients. Check out the #TropicalTrio by Jambar!

You can find more about JAMBAR at www.jambar.com and use Code LARRY15. Try out the Vegan Medley, which includes #TropicalTrio, #Jazzleberry, and #Mango. I love the Tropical Trio and Chocolate Cha Cha!

Founded in 2021 by Jenny Maxwell, who co-founded the entire category in 1985 (with Powerbar), and sold it in 2000.
Try JAMBAR, a great snack for athletes, coaches, Moms, and teens who need a good snack! www.Jambar.com , please use CODE LARRY15.

Our topics:

1. The World Cross Country was a true success in Belgrade, Serbia.

BELGRADE, SERBIA – MARCH 30: Berehanu Tsegu of Ethiopia, Jacob Kiplimo, Leonard Chemutai, and Joshua Chptegei of Uganda, Samwel Chebolei Masai and Benson Kiplangat of Kenya compete in the Men’s Senior race during the World Athletics Cross Country Championships Belgrade 2024 on March 30, 2024 in Belgrade, Serbia.
(Photo by © Adam Nurkiewicz for World Athletics

2. The LOC gets kudos for organizing the event at the last minute.

3. Tim Hutchings and Paula Radcliffe’s TV commentation was good. It is hard to build interest when coverage does not tell stories about the Kenyan, Ethiopian, and Ugandan teams. All news is local, so sports need to remember this.

BELGRADE, SERBIA—MARCH 30: Marta Alemayo of Ethiopia leads in the Women’s U20 race at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships Belgrade 2024 on March 30, 2024, in Belgrade, Serbia.
(Photo by © Adam Nurkiewicz for World Athletics)

4. Beatrice Chebet and Jacob Kiplimo were the defending champions.

BELGRADE, SERBIA – MARCH 30: Beatrice Chebet of Kenya poses with a flag after winnig in the Women’s Senior race during the World Athletics Cross Country Championships Belgrade 2024 on March 30, 2024 in Belgrade, Serbia.
(Photo by © Adam Nurkiewicz for World Athletics)

5. Kenya had a perfect 10 score in the women’s senior race.

6. Many European countries did not send teams. Norway sent one athlete (Karoline Grovdal).

7. Cross country, run on nearly groomed golf courses, has emasculated the sport. Participants can hurdle hay bales or run around them. Little mud and few hills have Americanized the courses. Cross Country courses on a global level in the 1970s were brutishly tough.

John Treacy, Ireland, World Cross Country Champ, 1978, 1979, photo courtesy of Athletics Ireland

8. Right now, the sport is glorified road racing. Most Europeans cannot compete with East Africans on such courses. If WA wants global competition, then make the courses tough.

See you on Monday, April 1, 2024.

Author

Larry Eder

Larry Eder has had a 52-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Also does some updates for BBC Sports at key events, which he truly enjoys.

Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."

View all posts