Olympic and World Champions shine as Bahrain dominates 60th WMC Cross Country in Greece
TRIKALA (GRE) - On Sunday, 1 March 2026, the 60th CISM World Military Cross Country Championship was staged at the “Skamnies” Athletic Center in Pigi, Municipality of Pyli, Trikala, Greece, bringing together military athletes from 38 CISM Member Nations on challenging natural terrain that tested endurance, discipline, and tactical strength.
In the Women’s 8,000m race, Olympic and world champion Winfred Mutile Yavi of Bahrain continued her remarkable season by claiming first place in 25:43, underscoring her stature as one of the world’s premier distance runners. Yavi, who won gold in the women’s 3000m steeplechase at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games and has multiple major international titles to her name, demonstrated her versatility transitioning from world-class track to cross-country competition. Running in close pursuit, Violah Jepchumba Kilonzo Motosio also represented Bahrain with distinction, finishing second in 25:50, while French marathon Olympian Mekdes Woldu Alazar secured the bronze medal in 26:16.
The Men’s 10,000m race was equally competitive, with Bahraini standout Birhanu Balew taking gold in 28:21. Balew, who has represented Bahrain at multiple World Championships and delivered strong performances in CISM military competitions including victories at previous Military World Games, showed excellent strategy and pace over the demanding course. Algerian runner Ramdane Ouargui narrowly edged out the field for silver in 28:23, and Morocco’s Mustapha Akkaoui completed the podium in 28:24.
In the Mixed Relay 4x2km, Ethiopia captured first place with a seamless team effort, followed by Morocco in second and Bahrain in third. In the Women’s 8km Team Classification, Bahrain’s depth secured the top spot ahead of Morocco and France, while in the Men’s 10km Team Classification, Algeria finished first, with Bahrain and Morocco taking second and third respectively.
In parallel to the world championship, the 1st Balkan Military Cross Country Championship highlighted regional excellence. In the Women’s 8km race, Bulgaria’s Militsa Mircheva claimed top honours in 28:31, followed by Greece’s Athanasia Kokkorou in 29:02 and Bulgaria’s Marilena Tsekova in 31:47. Greek runners dominated the Men’s 10km event, where Dimitrios Tsakalos won in 31:18, closely followed by fellow countryman Panagiotis Petroulakis in 31:51, and Bulgaria’s Todor Michalev in 33:24. In the Women’s Team Classification, Bulgaria finished first, with Greece second and Bosnia and Herzegovina third, while in the Men’s Team Classification Greece ranked first, Bulgaria second, and the Republic of North Macedonia third.
The Closing Ceremony was attended by distinguished guests, including the Regional Governor of Thessaly, Mr. Dimitrios Kouretas; Member of Parliament for Trikala, Ms. Marina Kontotoli; CISM President Colonel Nilton Gomes Rolim Filho; CISM Secretary General Captain (N) Roberto Recchia; representatives from the Chiefs of the General Staffs of the Hellenic Armed Forces and the Headquarters of the Security Forces; officials from SEGAS (Hellenic Athletics Federation); and local and military dignitaries. Athletes were celebrated with medals and trophies in recognition of their performances, and speakers highlighted the vital role of sport in fostering cooperation and understanding among military personnel worldwide.
The Championship closed in the spirit of the enduring CISM motto, “Friendship through Sport,” reaffirming the power of sport to advance peace, respect, and solidarity among the Armed Forces of the participating nations.
The official Championship website provides all relevant information for participants and visitors:https://60cism-wmccc.org/
Useful Links:
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Livestreaming: https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=aQGwlDvFgBA
(Source: Hellenic Delegation to CISM)
