The 2011 IAAF World Cross Country Championships took place on March 20, 2011. The races were held at the Polideportivo Antonio Gil Hernández in Punta Umbría, Spain. Reports of the event were given for the IAAF.

Preparation The United States had expressed an interest in hosting the competition,. Reuters (2008-07-02). Retrieved on 2011-01-22. but Punta Umbria was chosen as the host at the IAAF Council Meeting in November 2009. It will be the third occasion that Spain has hosted the competition, coming thirty years after Madrid held the 1981 edition.

The course for the competition, set in a wooded area, has a 2 km loop format with an additional 600 m section for the start and finish of each race.Basic Information Guide – 2011 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, Punta Umbria, Spain. IAAF (2010-09-10). Retrieved on 2011-01-22. A number of top runners were invited to preview the course in early 2011 and all confirmed that they were pleased with its quality.Medal aspirants give World Championships course seal of approval – two months to go - Punta Umbría 2011. IAAF (2011-01-20). Retrieved on 2011-01-22. Defending champion Joseph Ebuya said he liked the course but suggested that organisers add additional barriers along the route, claiming its flat features would make it difficult for runners to devise a race strategy.Mutuota, Mutwiri (2011-01-22). Chepkwony and Chepkurui thrive in Nanyuki. IAAF. Retrieved on 2011-01-22.

Multiple world champion Kenenisa Bekele will not compete for a third year running, owing to his failure to return to fitness following a season-long calf injury.Bekele ruled out of the World Cross . Athletics Weekly (2010-01-20). Retrieved on 2011-01-22.

Qualification Athletes can gain qualification into the World Championships through performances at either their national trials or through the following IAAF Permit Meetings:

Cross de Atapuerca Oeiras International Cross Country Lotto Cross Cup Brussels Great Edinburgh International Cross Country Cross Internacional de Itálica Antrim International Cross Country Cinque Mulini KCB Nairobi Cross Chiba International Cross Country Fukuoka International Cross Country Eurocross Almond Blossom Cross Country

Pre-race form

The results of the Kenyan Cross Country Championships ruled out the defending men's and women's champions (Joseph Ebuya and Emily Chebet) before the World Championships had begun: despite his strong form on the circuit that season, Ebuya dropped out of his national race, while an ankle injury prevented Chebet from gaining selection.Mutuota, Mutwiri (2011-02-19). Mutai and Masai take hard fought wins in Nairobi; reigning World champs Ebuya and Chebet won’t defend. IAAF. Retrieved on 2011-03-18.

Unlike previous years, no former champion was present in the line-up for the men's senior event at the World Championships. This left three East African national champions as some of the foremost contenders – Kenya's Geoffrey Mutai, Hunegnaw Mesfin of Ethiopia and Ugandan runner Moses Kipsiro. Teklemariam Medhin, a young Eritrean and runner-up in 2010, had also demonstrated strong form with wins on the Spanish cross country circuit. The men's team race was also anticipated to be a battle between these four East Africa nations.Minshull, Phil (2011-03-16). Mutai, Mesfin or Medhin? - Punta Umbria Men’s Races Preview. IAAF. Retrieved on 2011-03-18.

Past champions were similarly absent from the women's senior race. Linet Masai was one of principal protagonists once more, having been pipped into second place by a fellow Kenyan at both the 2009 and 2010 editions. One of her strongest rivals was yet again one of her countrywomen, this time in the form of track specialist Vivian Cheruiyot. Four-time long race bronze medallist Meselech Melkamu led the Ethiopian team, which included Genzebe Dibaba (sister of past winner Tirunesh) among its representatives. Aside from two others in the Kenyan team (Lineth Chepkurui and Pauline Korikwiang), American Shalane Flanagan and Bahrain's Maryam Yusuf Jamal were the remaining prominent names expected to challenge for the medals.Johnson, Len (2011-03-15). Masai should keep her friends close – but not too close! - Punta Umbria Women's Race Preview. IAAF. Retrieved on 2011-03-18.

In the junior races, the foremost runner was Isaiah Koech, who had set world junior indoor bests on the track in the months preceding the competition. A victory at the Kenyan junior race established him as a contender for the cross country title. Although the Kenyan junior women team did not have a star name, it was favoured to defend its team title against the Ethiopian challengers in an event at which the country is traditionally strong.

Schedule Date Time Events20 March 11:30 Junior race women 12:00 Junior race men 12:45 Senior race women 13:40 Senior race men

Results Senior men's race (12 km) Complete results for senior men, for senior men's teams, were published.

+Individual race Rank Athlete Country Time (m:s) Imane Merga33:50 Paul Kipngetich Tanui33:52 Vincent Kiprop Chepkok33:53 4Mathew Kipkoech Kisorio33:55 5Geoffrey Mutai34:03 6Stephen Kiprotich34:07 7 Philemon Kimeli Limo34:21 8Hunegnaw Mesfin34:25 9Ali Hasan Mahboob34:30 10Hosea Mwok Macharinyang34:30 11Moses Ndiema Kipsiro34:31 12Dino Sefir34:35 Full results

+Teams Rank Team Points Paul Kipngetich Tanui 2 Vincent Kiprop Chepkok 3 Mathew Kipkoech Kisorio 4 Geoffrey Kiprono Mutai 5 (Philemon Kimeli Limo) (7) (Hosea Mwok Macharinyang) (10)14 Imane Merga 1 Hunegnaw Mesfin 8 Dino Sefir 12 Feyisa Lilesa 17 (Belete Assefa) (46)38 Stephen Kiprotich 6 Moses Ndiema Kipsiro 11 Geofrey Kusuro 13 Dickson Huru 19 (Moses Kibet) (22)49 494 5111 6129 7 150 8150 Full results Note: Athletes in parentheses did not score for the team result.

Senior women's race (8 km) Complete results for senior women, and for senior women's teams were published.

+Individual race Rank Athlete Country Time (m:s) Vivian Cheruiyot24:58 Linet Masai25:07 Shalane Flanagan25:10 4Meselech Melkamu25:18 5Priscah Jepleting Cherono25:20 6Wude Ayalew25:21 7 Pauline Chemning Korikwiang25:26 8Lineth Chepkurui25:28 9Genzebe Dibaba25:36 10Belaynesh Oljira25:40 11Hiwot Ayalew25:42 12Shitaye Eshete25:53 Full results

+Teams Rank Team Points Vivian Jepkemoi Cheruiyot 1 Linet Chepkwemoi Masai 2 Priscah Jepleting Cherono 5 Pauline Chemning Korikwiang 7 (Lineth Chepkurui) (8) (Sylvia Jebiwott Kibet) (13)15 Meselech Melkamu 4 Wude Ayalew 6 Genzebe Dibaba 9 Beleynesh Oljira 10 (Hiwot Ayalew) (11) (Merima Mohammed) (15)29 Shalane Flanagan 3 Molly Huddle 17 Magdalena Lewy-Boulet 18 Blake Russell 19 Alissa Doehla (28) (Lisa Koll) (40) 57 487 5116 6146 7 160 8180 Full results Note: Athletes in parentheses did not score for the team result.

Junior men's race (8 km) Complete results for junior men and for junior men's teams were published.

+Individual race Rank Athlete Country Time (m:s) Geoffrey Kipsang Kamworor22:21 Thomas Ayeko22:27 Patrick Mutunga Mwikya22:32 4Bonsa Dida22:39 5Fikadu Haftu22:43 6James Gitahi Rungaru22:43 7 Muktar Edris22:44 8Yitayal Atnafu22:53 9Jacob Araptany23:03 10Isaiah Kiplangat Koech23:10 11Tesfaye Cheru23:16 12Samson Gebreyohannes23:18 Full results

+Teams Rank Team Points Geoffrey Kipsang Kamworor 1 Patrick Mutunga Mwikya 3 James Gitahi Rungaru 6 Isiah Kiplangat Koech 10 (Philemon Kipchumba Yator) (13) (Justine Kiprop Cheruiyot) (14)20 Bonsa Dida 4 Fikadu Haftu 5 Muktar Edris 7 Yitayal Atnafu 8 (Tesfaye Cheru) (11) (Teshome Tafese) (19)24 Thomas Ayeko 2 Jacob Araptany 9 Peter Kibet 15 Phillip Kipyego 24 (Daniel Rotich) (25) 50 465 5106 6123 7 148 8153 Full results Note: Athletes in parentheses did not score for the team result.

Junior women's race (6 km) Complete results for junior women and for junior women's teams were published.

+Individual race Rank Athlete Country Time (m:s) Faith Kipyegon18:53 Genet Yalew18:54 Azemra Gebru18:54 4Waganesh Mekasha18:59 5Janeth Kisa19:08 6Nancy Chepkwemoi19:20 7 Purity Cherotich Rionoripo19:24 8Emebet Anteneh19:29 9Brillian Jepkorir Kipkoech19:33 10Buze Diriba19:34 11Alem Mokonnin19:39 12Katsuki Suga19:49 Full results

+Teams Rank Team Points Genet Yalew 2 Azemra Gebru 3 Waganesh Mekasha 4 Emebet Anteneh 8 (Buze Diriba) (10) (Alem Mokonnin) (11) 17 Faith Kipyegon 1 Janeth Kisa 5 Nancy Chepkwemoi 6 Purity Cherotich Rionoripo 7 (Brillian Jepkorir Kipkoech) (9) (Naom Chepngeno Mitei) (16) 19 Katsuki Suga 12 Tomoka Kimura 13 Yuriko Kosaki 23 Risa Yokoe 27 (Risa Shibuya) (30) (Natsumi Yoshida) (34) 75 489 5106 6110 7 144 8146 Full results Note: Athletes in parentheses did not score for the team result.

Medal table (unofficial)

Note: Totals include both individual and team medals, with medals in the team competition counting as one medal.

Participation According to an unofficial count, 423 athletes from 51 countries participated. This is in agreement with the official numbers as published. The announced athletes of and did not show.

(16) (1) (2) (15) (13) (2) (1) (4) (12) (2) (18) (1) (1) (3) (1) (1) (20) (24) (9) (1) (3) (1) (11) (22) (2) (24) (2) (3) (22) (6) (5) (5) (2) (14) (1) (6) (4) (3) (1) (23) (24) (4) (2) (1) (14) (19) (2) (24) (24) (1) (1)

See also 2011 IAAF World Cross Country Championships – Senior men's race 2011 IAAF World Cross Country Championships – Junior men's race 2011 IAAF World Cross Country Championships – Senior women's race 2011 IAAF World Cross Country Championships – Junior women's race 2011 in athletics (track and field)

References

External links Official website