TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – Tallahassee is hosting the World Athletics Cross Country Championships this weekend and welcoming athletes from across the globe.
The championships are bringing nearly 500 athletes from more than 50 countries to the capital city.
More than 5,000 tickets have already been sold to spectators coming from all 50 states and several other countries. Flags from each of those countries are flying near the course at Apalachee Regional Park.
The course was already bustling on Thursday, as it was the first day athletes could check out the course and get a practice run in.(Julie Montanaro/WCTV)
The course was already bustling on Thursday, as it was the first day athletes could check out the course and get a practice run in.
WCTV met runners from Kenya, Japan, India, Great Britain, among other countries, and talked with Niamh Allen from Ireland as she wrapped up her first run.
“It’s my first time to Florida, so I’m delighted to be here and the world as well. It’s incredible, the staging is out of this world,” Allen said. “The man-made bits and bobs, it’s going to be a technical and challenging course but a fair course for everyone.”
Allen says she won’t be able to stick around and enjoy Tallahassee for long after the race, as she’s got a toddler waiting for her at home.
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A few runners, like Daniel Simiu Ebenyo from Kenya, said they were surprised by the morning fog and took note of the humidity.
“The course is good, but I see it is a bit humid here. Maybe tomorrow, we’ll see. The day of the competition, we’ll see how it will be, maybe it will be hot,” Ebenyo said.
While that famous Florida sunshine was in short supply on Thursday, Kerri Post with Visit Tallahassee said those variations in weather come with the territory.
“Sometimes it’s really hot or really cold, so the athletes know that it’s variable, but like you said, the expectation is we’re in the sunshine state, they will experience Florida sunshine and the warm hospitality of Tallahassee and North Florida,” Post said.
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