TALLAHASSEE, FL — The World Athletics Cross Country Championships are tomorrow, January 10th. Gates open at 7:45 am at Apalachee Regional Park, with the first race of the day, the mixed relay finals, beginning at 9:45 a.m.
WATCH VIDEO BELOW
UPDATE 6:00 PM BROADCAST TRANSCRIPT
We are just about 12 hours away from the Gates opening here at Apalachee Regional Park for the World Athletics Cross Country Championship.
I'm Justin White, your neighborhood reporter here at Apalachee Regional Park, where runners and spectators from all over the globe will gather for this international event.
"For those of you watching at home or in the crowd, welcome to Leon County," said Leon County Commission Chair Christian Caban
Event organizers from Leon County and the World Athletics Championships held a press conference Friday ahead of the event, welcoming the world to Tallahassee.
The World Athletics president praised the new course.
" This is one of the best cross-country courses in the world. I've only been here 24 hours, but I think most of my colleagues think this is probably the best World Cross Country course in the world, so thank you," said Sebastian Cole, President of World Athletics
And if you have the best course in the world, the world's greats are bound to show up, like 5x World Cross Country Champion runner Paul Tergat from Kenya.
"Cross country is part of me, I love it so, it's very exciting to see the young people taking that mental to represent their countries at the apex of World Cross Country. This is huge," Tergat told me.
He also left a message for those competing tomorrow.
You have been working so hard to be able to achieve and reach here tomorrow is your day, give your best, and we wish you all the best," Tergat added.
FSU alum and South African Olymic runner Adriaan Wildschutt told me he's excited to be competing against international talent at his second home.
"So exciting to actually be back here and run a course that I worked with people that actually built that course you know so it's just really exciting to be back seeing all the people from FSU and alumni and competing a high level so that's that's gonna be very exciting. Just to be back like going to my old food spots. I know exactly where to go where to run so very excited to be here," Said Wildschutt
You can feel the excitement surrounding the big day tomorrow
Gates open at 7:45 am, and the first race is at 9:45 am
From Apalachee regional park, I'm Justin White, ABC 27
ORIGINAL
Ahead of the big race, World Athletics is holding a presser at the park.
WATCH COVERAGE BELOW:
Want to see more local news? Visit the WTXL ABC 27 Website.
Stay in touch with us anywhere, anytime.
