{"id":112904,"date":"2026-01-10T08:41:13","date_gmt":"2026-01-10T08:41:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/112904\/"},"modified":"2026-01-10T08:41:13","modified_gmt":"2026-01-10T08:41:13","slug":"leon-county-gears-up-for-world-athletics-cross-country-championship-on-saturday-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/112904\/","title":{"rendered":"Leon County gears up for World Athletics Cross Country Championship on Saturday"},"content":{"rendered":"

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – Leon County is gearing up for the World Athletics Cross Country Championship<\/a>, the first world championship level event ever hosted in the Tallahassee area.<\/p>\n

According to a Leon County press release, over 450 of the world\u2019s top runners will compete in five championship races, including the United States, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Spain and Great Britain. <\/p>\n

In a press conference held Friday at noon, a World Athletics official said on the visa denials for some athletes<\/a>, \u201cThe world is a complicated place. Cross-country can provide an opportunity to come together. The US Olympic Committee and local authorities have been helpful.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added, \u201cSo we\u2019ve got a good turnout tomorrow, but the world\u2019s complicated.\u201d<\/p>\n

Leon County Commissioner Christian Caban said in a press release that Tallahassee was \u201chonored to host\u201d and that the race is expected to bring $4 million in economic impact.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis park alone has generated more than $83 million in economic impact for folks in Tallahassee and Leon County. That\u2019s benefiting small businesses, restaurants, hotels, retail,\u201d Caban said in an interview.<\/p>\n

More Tallahassee news:<\/p>\n

The World Athletics president proclaimed Tallahassee the \u201ccross country capital of the world,\u201d a remarkable turnaround for Apalachee Regional Park<\/a>, which used to be a landfill.<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a really good turnout. And it\u2019s very much in keeping with where we\u2019ve got. We\u2019ve got 450 athletes here and we\u2019ve got, as I said, nearly 50 countries. That\u2019s a great turnout,\u201d said Sebestian Coe, the president of World Athletics.<\/p>\n

Leon County Commissioner Vincent S. Long said in the press release that the county\u2019s vision for the park\u2019s renovations paid off. \u201cOver the past 15 years, Leon County transformed an inactive landfill into a premier cross-country venue that has hosted more than 75 championship events, welcomed more than 80,000 athletes, and generated over $84 million in direct visitor spending.\u201d<\/p>\n

More than 5,000 tickets have already been sold to spectators who are coming from all 50 states and several other countries.<\/p>\n

Taylor Wheaton, co-chair and senior sports sales director for Visit Tallahassee, said in the press release that the event advances Leon County\u2019s sports tourism portfolio. \u201cThe world is literally watching Tallahassee this weekend.\u201d<\/p>\n

There is also a World Fun Run: Florida Edition that will support the Leon County Schools\u2019 track and cross-country programs, per the county. The Florida A&M University Marching 100 is expected to perform the national anthem. <\/p>\n

The race is expected to begin at 9:45 a.m. with gates opening at 7:45 a.m. on Saturday at Apalachee Regional Park. <\/p>\n

Runners from Chiles High School got a chance to checkout the course after winning a state title. <\/p>\n

Athletes from Australia were seen snapping pics in front of a large banner, while a French athlete spoke of his excitement through a translator.<\/p>\n

A World Athletics spokesperson said an American hasn\u2019t won a gold medal since 1992, though several US athletes home that will change on home soil on Saturday.<\/p>\n

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