Justin Rule shines at World Cross Country Championships in Bathurst

Mackay athlete Justin Rule has shown his staying power while taking on the gruelling World Cross Country Championships in Bathurst.

Mackays own Justin Rule proved himself to be one of the worlds best senior athletes with his 13th place finish at this weekends World Cross Country Championships in Bathurst, NSW. Picture: Justin Rule

For the first time in a long time it wasn’t the sound of engines that consumed Bathurst but rather a stampede of the world’s best cross-country runners trying their luck around Mount Panorama.

Hosted in Australia for the first time, the 44th edition of the World Cross Country Championships saw hundreds of athletes gather in the New South Wales country side in a bid to be crowned world champion.

The Boxing Kangaroo made its full appearance at Bathurst as Justin Rule took on the gruelling course for the World Cross Country Championships. Picture: Justin Rule

Across three days, runners competed in the Under 20s, Open, Masters and relay.

The Open and Under 20 events were dominated by East African athletes but the Masters saw Australia dominate, with Rule racing into the top 15 position.

Typically seen pounding the pavements of Mackay, the 2022 regional masters athlete of the year competed against Steve Moneghetti for the three laps of the 2km circuit.

Equipped with sand traps, hills, vineyards and an obstacle course made of tyres to honour the V8 history of the venue, Rule gave his all on his way to an impressive 13th place in the Men’s 45-Plus category.

Rule makes his way down one of two downhill sections. Picture: Justin Rule

“This has been a mission over the last two years.” Rule said.

“I can match some of the best mature-aged runners in the world.”

Typically run every two years, athletes were forced to wait since 2019 for their shot to be crowned the world’s best.

They will now turn their attention to the competition in Croatia in 2025.

Local legend Benita Willis is the only Australian individual to win a medal at the event, doing so in 2004.

Now officially asserting himself as one of the world’s best for his age group, Rule will turn his attention to the track with the Masters National Championships in two weeks before aiming for a big winter season on the roads and cross-country courses.