World cross country bronze to Australia in teams relay, favourite DQ’d, wild weather and collapses

Australia celebrates on a brutal world cross country course as a favourite is disqualified, athletes collapse and wild weather sends spectators fleeing on a drama packed day. How it unfolded.

Jessica Hull during the mixed relay. Pic: Cameron Spencer/Getty

An Australian quartet conquered a killer hill and bizarre obstacles to claim a historic medal as athletes crawled over the finish line, a favourite was disqualified and a violent storm encircled the Mount Panorama racecourse on a day of high heat and drama.

Olivier Hoare, Jessica Hull, Stewart McSwen and Abbey Caldwell raced off with a historic bronze in the teams relay in a great start to a day which ended with wild winds and spectators sent from the course due to nearby storm activity and rain.

And while; the Australians celebrated pre-race favourite for the women’s 10km title, Ethiopian and 10,000 champion and record holder Letesenbet Gidey was overtaken for the win, crashed to the ground and was then helped up by two supporters which later resulted in her disqualification for outside assistance.

Soon after wild winds smashed the course due to an impending storm with Jacob Kiplimo winning the men’s 10km race as spectators were ordered out of the venue due to the proximity of lighting.

This followed on from numerous athletes falling foul of the searing heat just shy of the line, including a Japanese competitor crossing the finish line by bouncing his way across on his buttocks and Australian runner Leanne Pompeani weaving her way across in the women’s 10km in 22nd place.

The weather played a major role in results.

Sand pits, mud, tyres and a course described as both brutal and savage proved the undoing of numerous teams but not the locals who revelled in the 4x2km relay racing at the first world cross country titles held in Australia.

“You can do pretty impressive things with a home crowd on your side,’’ said NSW gun Hull, one of the stars of the Australian team medal success which has established the Aussies as a new force in distance teams racing.

“When you do it for a team you can always find another level.’’

Oliver Hoare got Australia off to a great start. Pic: David Tarbottom

The four Aussies all went into their race with confidence, buoyed by a home town advantage and with the benefit of an early reconnaissance of one of the toughest courses to host a world championships.

And they emerged from the first race of the day late on Saturday afternoon with a special medal.

Part of the cross country course involved dodging tyres.

“There’s no pressure when you are with three superstars,’’ Hull said, when quizzed on the weight of expectation on the hosts before the bronze medal win behind the Kenyan team of Emmanuel Wanyonyi, Mirriam Cherop, Kyumbe Munguti and Brenda Chebet and the Ethiopian outfit of Adehena Kasaye, Hawi Abera, Getnet Wale and Birke Haylom.

Australia wins bronze medal at the world cross country championships. Also, unbelievable scenes in the high heat. https://t.co/kZyFGyWDwZpic.twitter.com/5z5eWWB2wN

— amanda lulham (@amandalulham) February 18, 2023

Hoare set the early pace, leading the field out of the home straight on Mount Panorama and then entering the exchange zone in third where he passed off to Australian 1500m record holder Hull.

Hull then chased down the early leaders to take the lead before handing off to McSweyn.

Athletes compete in the Mixed Relay race during the 2023 World Cross Country Championships.

Uganda's Joshua Cheptegei (L) embraces countryman Jacob Kiplimo.

McSweyn handed over to Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Caldwell with Australia in second place.

The Aussies then came home in third place for a bronze medal Hull described as “unreal’’.

The course in Bathurst boasted a sand pit nicknamed Bondi Beach, vines and a muddy billabong with organisers trucking in extra ice to keep drinks cool for athletes as temperatures soared past 35 degrees on Saturday afternoon.

Tsigie Gebreselama of Team Ethiopia crosses the finish line.

Extra sprinklers were also bought in to wet the course more in the dry heat.

After a dramatic finish where favourite Gidey was disqualified when spectators rushed to help her finish after she collapsed, Beatrice Chebet from Kenya won the women’s 10km from Tsigie Gebreselama (Ethiopia) and Kenyan Agnes Jebet Ngetich.

Emily Chebet of Team Kenya is seen in a wheelchair after competing

A storm looms in Bathurst.

Ellie Pashley was the best placed Australian in 19th with Pompeani 22 and Newcastle’s Rose Davies 23.

In the following 6km under 20 women’s race, Aspen Anderson was Australia’s best placed athlete in 35th with Carli-Rose Carylan 39th and Gabrielle Schmidt 42nd. Ethiopian Senayet Getachew won the gold.

Kenyan Ishmael Kipkurui won the under 20s men’s race with Australian Archie Noakes 17th and Bailey Haebler 31st.

Ugandan Jacob Kiplimo won the men’s 10km as spectators were ordered to leave due to the storm and after organisers had changed the timing of the start so it could still go ahead.

Ethiopian Berihu Aregawi claimed silver and Ugandan Joshua Cheptegei bronze.