World athletics cross and masters championships to be hosted concurrently in Bathurst

World Athletics and the local organizing committee (LOC) for the World Athletics Cross Country Championships Bathurst 23 and World Masters Athletics have reached a historic agreement to host the World Masters Athletics Short Course Cross Country Championships on the same course from 18-19 February.

Cross country runners aged 35 and older can enter individually but must then be approved by their respective national federations. They will compete across two days of competition.

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The masters team relay of 4km (1 male, 1 female x 2km) conducted in five age groups (35-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80+), will take place on Saturday, 18 February.

The individual championship events on Sunday will be races for five-year age categories (6km for ages 35-39 and 4km for 70+) as per World Masters Athletics rules.

Eleven-time world cross-country representative and Bathurst 23 LOC Director Steve Moneghetti said he was thrilled that the agreement had been signed, and masters athletes would have the opportunity to experience this hallmark event.

“We are incredibly excited to welcome masters athletes to the WXC Bathurst 23," he said. "We have such passionate runners of all ages and abilities from across the world coming along and together, we can prove that our sport really does cater to everyone."

“So many runners across the world begin their sporting journeys in cross country at school and it’s fantastic to see that there is still appetite for the discipline in older age groups. We are pleased to be working with World Masters Athletics and World Athletics to widen our global athletics community and look forward to seeing everyone doing what they love against the backdrop of Mount Panorama.”

World Athletics president Sebastian Coe said that the governing body believes running is for everyone at every age while expressing delighted to see this new collaboration with World Masters Athletics.

“Cross country is a discipline that is dear to my heart and I am looking forward to seeing athletes of all ages and abilities discovering the joys and challenges of off-road racing in Bathurst next year, alongside our elite runners.”

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The world cross country championship is set for from 17-19 February and will see more than 5000 participants, from grassroots athletes to the elite, take on the course.

Entries for the World Masters Athletics events at WXC Bathurst 23 will open on 8 November 2022 via the WXC Bathurst 23 and World Masters Athletics websites.