World Cross Country Championships 2026: Gulveer Singh finishes 40th in Tallahassee

Indian long-distance runner Gulveer Singh finished 40th in the senior men’s race at the World Cross Country Championships 2026, held in Florida’s Tallahassee in the USA on Saturday.

Gulveer, who holds the Indian national records in the 3000m, 5000m and 10000m and is also the reigning Asian cross-country champion, completed the course at the Apalachee Regional Park in 30 minutes and 39 seconds, says an Olympic.com report.

This was Gulveer Singh’s second-best time in a cross-country race in his career after the 30:07 he clocked at the previous World Cross Country Championships held in Belgrade two years ago.

Gulveer’s fellow Indian athlete Sawan Barwal finished in 60th position at Tallahassee 2026 after clocking 31:37.

Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo, an Olympic bronze medallist from Tokyo 2020, finished in 28:18 to win his third consecutive world cross country title.

Ethiopia’s Berihu Aregawi was 18 seconds slower and finished runners-up to Kiplimo for the third time on the trot. Kenya’s Daniel Ebenyo finished third in 28:45.

The entry list for the men’s senior race at the World Cross Country Championships 2026 comprised 123 athletes with 114 crossing the finish line.

Meanwhile, in the mixed relay event, India’s Ajay Kumar Saroj, Pooja, Yoonus Shah and Ankita finished in 12th position after clocking 24:13. No Indian team had competed in the mixed relay event at the World Cross Country Championships prior to this.

This was the 46th edition of the World Cross Country Championships but mixed relay has been a part of the programme since 2017.

Australia won the mixed team event with a time of 22:23. France bagged the silver medal with 22:26 while Ethiopia settled for bronze after clocking 22:34.

There was no Indian representation in the women’s senior race at Tallahassee.