A historic achievement took place over the weekend as Ayden Cintron, a 17-year-old athlete from the U.S. Virgin Islands, set a new record while competing in the 2026 World Athletics Cross Country Championships held at the Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, Florida. This event marked the first time runners from the territory participated in the prestigious championships, with Cintron finishing 64th out of 69 competitors in the under-20 men’s race.
Cintron, a senior at Good Hope Country Day School, completed the challenging 10-kilometer (6.2-mile) course in a time of 28 minutes, 21 seconds. The competition was fierce, particularly from Kenyan runners, who dominated the top spots. Frankline Kibel won the race with an impressive time of 23:18, followed closely by Emmanuel Kiprono at 23:20 and Andrew Kiptoo Alamisi in third at 23:28.
The championship also featured another trailblazer from the U.S. Virgin Islands, as St. Croix native Rachel Conhoff competed in the senior women’s division. The 26-year-old, who previously served as an assistant coach at Indiana State University, finished 82nd out of 89 participants in the eight-kilometer (five-mile) race, clocking in at 42:25. Conhoff’s performance adds to the significance of this event, as both she and Cintron are the first-ever athletes from the USVI to race at the World Cross Country Championships.
The senior women’s race was dominated by Kenya’s Agnes Jebet Ngetich, who claimed victory with a time of 31:28. Uganda’s Joy Cheptoyek followed in second place at 32:10, while Ethiopia’s Senayet Getachew secured third with a time of 32:13.
The World Cross Country Championships began in 1979 in Limerick, Ireland and have been held annually until 2011. Following that, the event transitioned to a bi-annual schedule, with the exception of 2021 when it was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The race calendar was further adjusted, moving the event to even years starting from 2023.
Ayden Cintron and Rachel Conhoff’s participation not only showcases their individual talents but also highlights the growing presence of the U.S. Virgin Islands in international athletics. Their performances at the World Championships serve as an inspiration to aspiring athletes in their territory and underscore the importance of representation on the global stage.
