Summary
The article discusses the current state of cross-country running as a sport, which has seen a decline in participation and prestige. It highlights athlete Megan Keith's transition from specializing in cross-country to focusing more on track events due to sponsorship and athletics funding pressures.
Key Facts
- Megan Keith is a cross-country runner who won silver medals in recent European championships.
- She realized the need to focus on track events for a professional athletic career, due to sponsorship and funding priorities.
- The World Cross Country Championships have seen a drop in participants, from over 800 to about 500.
- The event used to be held annually but was changed to every two years starting in 2011.
- Many countries either do not participate in the championships or send smaller teams.
- Financial incentives and national athletics funding tend to prioritize track and road events over cross-country.
- The popularity of the sport has diminished both at the public and elite levels.
- UK Sport's funding model emphasizes Olympic and Paralympic successes, not cross-country achievements.
