Australia Wins First Gold In Mixed Relay, Denying Kenya Of Three-Peat; Team USA Finishes Fifth

By Keenan Gray of DyeStat

Logan Hannigan-Downs photos

TALLAHASSEE - Almost three years after earning bronze on home soil, the Australian team of Oliver Hoare, Linden Hall, Jack Anstey and Jessica Hull earned its nation's first gold in the mixed 4x2-kilometer relay at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships on Saturday at Apalachee Regional Park.

Anchored by Olympic 1,500 meters silver medalist Hull, the Australian team collectively ran 22:23 for the win, improving their team time by three seconds from the Mount Panorama Circuit course in Bathurst, Australia, in 2023, which included both Hull and Hoare.

"Winning (a medal) as a team and having an opportunity to go after one, I could never pass that up," Hull said.

"Coming off the Olympics, it was a really hard grind in that base phase in 2024. But having (worlds) in January in 2026, my base was so much better because I was preparing for something that wasn't just about me, it was about the team and running for our country."

Hull, who is in the U.S. preparing for the Millrose Games, has now earned medals at three global championships in the past 10 months. She earned bronze at the 2025 Word Indoor Championships in the 3,000 meters and bronze again in the 1,500 meters in Tokyo in September. 

France earned its first medal in the relay, finishing second to Australia in 22:26. It's first medal for a French team since 2001 when the men's senior team finished second in Ostend, Belgium.

Ethiopia claimed its fifth overall relay medal, finishing in bronze position in 22:34 after earning silver the past two championships.

Kenya, winners of three of four relay titles dating back to the first year of the event in 2017, finished fourth in 22:42.

The United States, featuring Ethan Strand, Sage Hurta-Klecker, Wes Porter and Gracie Morris, took fifth in 22:43.

"You always want better, but I think it was a good day," Morris said. "All of us put it out there and did great."

Strand led off in 5:12 to give the U.S. an early lead before handing off to Hurta-Klecker.

Hoare was two seconds behind Strand in 5:14 when he handed off to Hall in fourth position.

Hall, a former Florida State Seminole running on her home course, turned the momentum towards Australia's favor with a 5:57 leg to give the Australians their first lead of the race by six seconds at the halfway point.

Anstey, a late addition to the team after Cam Myers was not able to compete due to medical reasons, maintained Australia's lead up until France's Antoine Senard closed in on him at 5k and then took the lead at the final exchange by two seconds.

Senard handed off to Agathe Guillemot for the final exchange, but Hull made up ground quickly when she caught Guillemot one kilometer in to regather the lead for Australia, closing the last leg in 5:50 to seal the win.